Do Your Own Revolution

#045.

Quite some time had passed since entering the military academy.

The first semester ended with the unprecedented event of the principal’s death, and now it was time for the second semester’s final evaluation results to come out.

“Kheuk…! Kheukheu…!”

“……”

After a year of desperate effort, my grades somehow made it to the top of the class.

However, seeing Kyle’s smirking face beside me made my mood twist on its own.

“Did you see that, Eugene! We’re tied for first! I even beat you in math!”

“Gyaaaaaak–!”

I did make it to the top.

It was possible because I took first place in all the practical tests that had high reflection rates.

But I couldn’t even feel relieved about it, as I was tied for first with that unlucky young noble.

Moreover, while that bastard maintained his grades, mine had dropped, resulting in the tie!

That damn math subject had tripped me up until the end, and I ended up getting caught up like this.

No, more than that, was I this competitive?

Even though being tied for first is still being first, why am I so frustrated?

“What? Kyle and Eugene are tied? Does this mean Kyle will overtake him starting from second year?”

“Kuhahaha! Eugene, you must be sweating now?”

“Is this the end of Eugene, the hope of non-nobles?”

“Hehe, Young Master Kyle! I always believed you would beat that arrogant bastard!”

“What did you say about that noble bastard?!”

“Want to fight again, you lowborns?!”

Kyle and I are tied for first, but why are you guys fighting, you crazy bastards?

Thinking that, I looked at the children bustling around me.

One follower clinging to Kyle, and three non-noble students growling at that follower.

Including Kyle, these five were the friends I had made over the past year.

“Just wait, Eugene Lorentz! Someday our Lord Kyle will blow your head off!”

“Julian? I didn’t say anything like that…”

“Who said such nonsense!”

No, cancel what I just said.

I don’t have five friends, I have four.

Leave out that schizophrenic bastard Julian.

‘Still, compared to when I first entered, this is huge progress.’

Guille, Ortega, Matt.

These three, who came running right after the principal’s funeral, had asked me for a duel out of nowhere.

‘F-fight with me!’

‘Me too!’

‘Please let me too.’

They said I might be better than the instructors since I hadn’t lost even while fighting those Revolutionary Army members.

‘It should be fine. They’re the same age anyway.’

What started as casually accepting their duels had led to now, and I had reached a conclusion.

Their determination to keep coming back despite being half-killed every time we dueled, and their steep magical power growth.

These three had qualities that put them among the top tier of the first years.

Who would have thought that stopping the Revolutionary Army’s invasion would become an opportunity to meet such talented individuals?

I could only thank Claude for invading the school at such an opportune time.

While I was watching the three’s squabble with Julian.

“All first years assemble at the training ground!”

“Departure ceremony rehearsal! Get in your uniforms and line up within 10 minutes!”

Hearing the instructors’ shouts, the expressions of the four who had been growling at each other just moments ago uniformly soured.

Would we get a vacation like regular universities after the final evaluations?

Of course not.

This is the Imperial Military Academy, proud of its history and tradition.

What awaited us freshmen, who would soon advance to second year, was preparation for the departure ceremony for our seniors heading to the frontlines.

***

“Salute!”

Formation, formation, formation.

Marching, marching, marching.

After doing this every day for a month, some people were starting to match angles even with their eyes closed.

I was one of those people.

However, it was no easy task to have so many students move as one.

There were bound to be people who couldn’t match the movements.

“Everyone- bow heads!”

“L-Loy……”

Ah, fuck.

As numerous curses could be heard from here and there, the instructor’s angry shout heated up the training ground.

“Everyone down-!”

Just when I thought today might be easier, it ended up like this.

Lying face down on the ground, I looked at the unfortunate student who had suddenly become a traitor.

“Uu, uuu……”

A body too thin to be a military academy cadet, large glasses, and that characteristic unconfident face.

While I was carefully observing that appearance, Kyle, who was lying next to me, quietly spoke.

“If you’re wondering who that is, he’s a second year who failed this semester.”

“Failed?”

When I asked back, Kyle nodded.

“I heard there was one student who failed among the second years. He passed the written tests but failed all practical evaluations.”

After hearing Kyle’s words, I looked at the boy’s face that had turned red with shame.

Failed due to lack of physical strength, and now in a position where he had to participate in the welcoming ceremony for his peers.

On top of that, he had messed up the drill and was being cursed at by his juniors, so he couldn’t even lift his head.

“Do you know his name too?”

“Erich Eismann. He’s from a regular noble family, not a magic noble one.”

When I asked, Kyle immediately spat out the boy’s name.

“He was born with magical power aptitude in a non-awakened family, and probably entered the military academy for his family’s success/revival. However, with his low magical power and no way for a regular noble to obtain an imprint… He became a burden worse than nothing.”

“Aah…”

What the?

Why does he know so much?

When I looked at him with a questioning gaze, Kyle smiled and added an explanation.

“Eugene. I am, after all, the heir to the Raikard family. I’ve already investigated all the seniors and juniors I’ll be sharing meals with.”

“Ah, I see…”

What correlation could there possibly be between sharing meals and investigating seniors?

Though I always try to maintain a learning attitude, I just can’t follow nobles’ gloomy way of thinking.

“By the way, why are you suddenly curious about his name? Do you know him?”

“…Something like that.”

I watched the boy rolling on the ground in the instructor’s grip.

Erich Eismann.

I almost didn’t recognize him from afar, but I never expected to meet him here.

‘After the boss monster, now it’s an old comrade.’

Erich Eismann.

He was one of the companions who had been with the protagonist from the beginning, along with Claude and Randall.

Most of the plans to overthrow the Empire came from that man’s mind.

Moreover, unlike others who betrayed the protagonist at the end, this guy…

‘I’ll hold them here. Hurry and go!’

‘You and the Revolutionary Army were the only ones who recognized my talent. If I can die for such people… It would be an honor for me.’

‘Thank you for everything, Eugene.’

‘For the revolution.’

He sacrificed himself in place of the protagonist who had fallen into crisis.

Because he was one of the few ‘true’ companions.

***

Some students who were burning with anger dragged someone behind the dormitory building.

When the student in the middle swung his fist, Erich’s body hit the wall.

“You stupid bastard, do you know how much we suffered because of you?!”

“S-sorry……”

“Sorry doesn’t cut it!”

The freshmen who tripped Erich immediately started lynching him.

Kicking, stomping, crushing.

It was excessive violence for simply messing up the drill.

‘They must be venting their frustrations from what they suffered from the seniors.’

The ones who brought Erich to the back alley were non-noble students.

Those who had to be playthings for noble seniors since entering as freshmen.

In front of them, a noble-born repeater, who even messed up the drill?

There was no way these freshmen, filled with resentment, would miss this opportunity.

‘What should I do.’

Erich, who appeared in [Revolution Empire], wasn’t suitable as a combat companion.

His true value showed in his skill, [Combat Support].

After adding Erich to the party and leveling him up, it was a skill that exponentially increased the number of Revolutionary Army members participating in chapter progression.

‘According to the setting, Erich’s role was supply and strategy planning for the Revolutionary Army. Most of the plans to overthrow the Empire came from that man’s mind.’

In reality rather than a game, that ability would prove even more valuable.

That’s why I fell into contemplation.

Should I recruit him? Or leave him be?

No. If I leave him and he joins the Revolutionary Army, who knows what kind of threat he could become.

‘Perhaps I should eliminate him before he joins the Revolutionary Army and becomes a future problem……’

“Hey.”

While I was still contemplating, my voice came out automatically.

When I came to my senses, I was already between the students, protecting Erich.

“Uh, uuh?”

“What? Which bastard… Heuk?!”

The growling at having their venting interrupted didn’t last long.

When they saw my face, they jumped back in surprise.

“E-Eugene……”

“What the? Why is that bastard suddenly…!”

Except for my four friends and one patient, this was how most of my peers looked at me.

Like an unapproachable beast.

Casually passing over their gazes filled with fear and bewilderment, I approached the leader of this assault and put my arm around his shoulder.

“I have something special to discuss with this senior. Would you mind giving us some space?”

“S-something to discuss……”

The leader I had grabbed looked around with a pale face.

The students who had been beating Erich with him had already fled.

He could do nothing but nod.

“Stand up, senior. Check carefully if anything’s broken.”

After confirming the freshmen had disappeared, I extended my hand to Erich.

Looking at it with bewildered eyes, Erich grabbed my hand with trembling fingers.

“Th-thank you for saving me. I survived thanks to you. But… y-you……”

“I’m Eugene Lorentz.”

After saying that, I pulled up Erich who was still sitting on the ground.

“Please take care of me, senior.”

Go Monster Ball.

You’re mine now.

***

Footsteps echoed through the dark underground prison.

An Imperial army officer wearing a uniform and carrying a pistol.

Walking at a leisurely pace, he stopped in front of the special detention cell located in the deepest part of the prison.

With the sound of metal, the lock opened, revealing the interior of the prison filled with stench and stale air.

A man wearing restraints, with the tendons in his arms and legs cut.

“Vark.”

When the Imperial army officer called the name, the Revolutionary Army’s second-in-command, Vark Urgon, slowly raised his head.

A hideous face covered in beard and filth.

While sensing the fierce killing intent in those eyes, the officer slowly approached him.

“Your execution date has been set. This coming June. They say it will be held in the presence of all high-ranking officials from the Imperial Army and Magic Corps.”

Hearing those words, Vark frowned.

Honorifics? That could happen.

It was just how those annoying nobles typically spoke.

But to inform a prisoner, especially a Level 1 prisoner like himself, about the execution schedule?

While thinking this, the Imperial army officer approaching Vark slowly revealed his face.

“Randall? How……”

“Shh.”

Vark’s eyes widened upon seeing the officer’s face.

Revolutionary Army staff officer, Randall Dean Clark.

He had come to find him.

“Claude did us a great service. Thanks to the chaos, I was able to create a false identity.”

Saying that, Randall shook the military dog tags around his neck.

An Imperial army officer who died during the military academy raid.

Randall had hidden the corpse and infiltrated the Imperial army through disguise.

After this brief explanation, Randall immediately reached for Vark’s body.

“Keu, keuu……”

Along with the creepy sensation of bones twisting, his severed tendons were restored.

But how?

He had heard that even Level 1 healers couldn’t treat injuries this severe…!

While he was thinking this, Randall took out a small pellet from his pocket and handed it to Vark.

“It’s a magic bullet minimized as much as possible. When you get the signal, detonate this. It will temporarily restore your lost magical power.”

Looking at Vark who silently nodded, Randall left the prison with a satisfied expression.

The upcoming execution.

If it was the execution of the Revolutionary Army’s second-in-command, Keiren, who was at the frontlines, would surely attend.

If they could use that revolutionary well, they might be able to inflict irreparable damage to the Empire.