Do Your Own Revolution-Chapter 157
#157
“There was a magical power reaction near the entrance. The Imperial Guard defending the entrance must have…”
“I see.”
The Imperial Palace was empty, devoid of any presence.
The Emperor turned away from the study window where he had been gazing at the imperial capital.
Truly now, the time had come.
Click. Click.
Unlike usual, the Emperor was wearing elaborate clothes.
A white frock coat adorned with gold thread, and a red cape draped over his shoulders.
The numerous symbols and decorations adorning it were the traditional attire worn by the Empire’s Emperor when attending to state affairs.
A cumbersome outfit that required the assistance of knights to put on rather than something one could don alone.
Seeing this sight, Andrei spoke with a faint smile.
“You look just like Your Majesty in your prime.”
“Don’t say such embarrassing things. These clothes are still as cumbersome as ever.”
“But…”
The Emperor, responding to Andrei’s words, spoke while looking at his own figure adorned in golden imperial robes.
“It’s quite a splendid appearance to serve as bait to lure out the remnants of the old generation.”
Today, he would die.
By the hand of the usurper, Duke Buckenheim, who had infiltrated the Imperial Palace alone.
Then, the position of Emperor that they would see last…
The throne he had embraced should appear as dignified and brilliant as possible.
So they would desire it even more.
So they couldn’t let go of the symbol of the Empire that would soon crumble.
“By the way, you all are quite incomprehensible.”
The Emperor, having donned all his regalia, spoke while looking at the knights waiting for him.
“I ordered you to leave the palace and find your own lives, so why do you choose to die with this old man?”
“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but those who would do so have all left.”
Not all knights had remained here.
This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.
Some had removed the symbol of the Imperial Guard and headed to the borders to create a new empire.
Those who remained were only the old knights who had completed training their successors, and those who had become knights through the Emperor’s grace.
Only the loyal knights who had served the Emperor for decades remained.
“We have stood by Your Majesty’s side.”
“…”
“When Your Majesty tried to reform the Empire. When you failed. And when you rose again, until now.”
All they could do was protect his back.
They had neither the power nor the will to change the Empire themselves.
Therefore, there was only one thing they could do.
Protect the Emperor, the master of the Empire.
“The Imperial Guard Knight Order is Your Majesty’s shield. If Your Majesty is preparing for the end, we shall accompany you.”
“…Such foolish ones.”
It was obvious they wouldn’t listen even if he tried to stop them.
Those with other intentions, those who wanted to live, had all already left this place.
So those who remained were only those who had made the same choice as him.
Those who believed in the next generation and wanted to fulfill their final duty for them.
“Thank you.”
Then as the Emperor of this setting Empire, I shall only repay their hearts.
“Thanks to you all, the path won’t be lonely.”
Having finished speaking, the Emperor walked with the knights.
They had a luxurious meal laid out in the reception room.
They walked along the clean, red carpet of the Imperial Palace.
Their destination was the First Audience Chamber located at the highest level of the Imperial Palace.
That place at the core of the palace hadn’t been visited by the Emperor for several decades.
He had instead used various empty rooms on the lower floors of the palace, saying ‘Why travel such a distance just to receive reports on state affairs?’
But now, the Emperor in full regalia walked toward the highest point of the Empire.
The place where an Emperor first sits upon ascending to the throne.
Toward that place where the throne stands.
“It has been a life of struggling to survive.”
The path leading to death.
Yet the Emperor’s steps were light as he walked that path.
“Love, ideals, even life’s small pleasures… Nothing ever went according to my will.”
“Your Majesty…”
“However, Andrei. Right now, I am overjoyed.”
The Emperor, wearing a composed expression, spoke to the knight who had served him for many years.
“Because at least my final moments will unfold entirely according to my will.”
“…”
From the day he handed the will to Eugene, everything had been meticulously arranged from start to finish.
So how could he not be excited?
His plan…
The reform of the Empire would be completed at this very moment.
“Andrei.”
A cold air hung in the audience chamber at the top of the Imperial Palace.
The golden throne waiting for him.
The Emperor, who had been quietly gazing at it, looked at his knight Andrei and asked.
“Was I a king you could be proud of?”
A single question asked with a serene expression.
And unlike that expression, trembling hands.
Imperial Guard Knight Order Commander Andrei Leonhardt looked at the Emperor’s back and spoke.
“You were the greatest sovereign in history, one who shall never be seen again.”
“…Is that so.”
One phrase.
As if reassured by that single phrase, the Emperor sat on the throne.
“Growing old has taught you how to speak honeyed words too, I see.”
“Do you think so?”
The two conversed with faint smiles, like old friends.
After a moment of such time passed…
Thud- Thud- Thud-
There came a knocking at the audience chamber door.
And following it was the voice of a long-time adversary.
“Your Majesty. I, Buckenheim, request an audience with Your Imperial Majesty.”
Karl Buckenheim.
The one who stood at the center of the Round Table was calling for him.
‘It seems he’s dealt with all the Imperial Guards defending the door.’
Thinking this, the Emperor raised his hand and spoke toward the door.
“Let him enter.”
At the Emperor’s permission, two knights opened the audience chamber doors.
Step. Step.
Duke Buckenheim entered with unhesitating steps.
Standing opposite the Emperor, he bowed his head respectfully as subjects typically do.
“I, Karl Buckenheim, come before Your Imperial Majesty.”
The Duke’s appearance was immaculate.
Despite having slaughtered hundreds of guards and dozens of knights, there wasn’t a single disheveled aspect to his appearance.
“I ordered that no one enter the palace, so why have you come?”
“Now that the war with the Republic has ended, I have come to stabilize the Empire’s uncertain political situation.”
“Stability? Your jokes have improved in our time apart, Karl.”
The Emperor called him by name without hesitation.
Wearing a sardonic smile, the Emperor looked at the Duke gazing up at him and spoke.
“What you want isn’t stability, but chaos, isn’t it?”
“…”
“A world maintaining the threats of monsters and foreign enemies, monopolizing magic and military power as the exclusive domain of heroes. And through that, a world where your descendants rule eternally.”
A world building their twisted desires upon the suffering of the powerless.
“Isn’t that the world desired by the ‘Hero’s Descendants’ who stand with you?”
The moment those words, like a declaration of war, ended…
“Death alone awaits the dishonorable usurper!”
Imperial Guard Knight Order Commander Andrei’s sword suddenly struck toward the Duke’s face.
A sword strike filled with magnificent magical power.
Yet until the moment the blade came before his nose, the Duke’s eyes remained calm.
“Futile.”
Boom—!
The Duke was pushed outward with an explosion.
Despite the attack from a six stroke imprint mage, not even a small scratch appeared on his body.
“How unpleasant.”
The Duke slowly stood up.
As if displeased that his body had been pushed back, he narrowed his brows while looking at Andrei who held his sword raised.
Magic bullet.
It was magic that had pulled up magical power far beyond the permitted amount, exceeding the limit.
“To think you’d use the sorcery of third-rate mages, the honor of the Imperial Guard Knight Order has fallen to the ground.”
“Cancers eating away at the Empire dare speak of honor?”
Andrei’s magical power surged like a raging wave.
And around such Andrei, the Imperial Guards began forming ranks.
“Come, Buckenheim.”
“We won’t let you take a single step toward His Imperial Majesty!”
Rumble—!
Golden magical power swirled around, materializing in the form of a massive spear.
[Spear of Radiance], the Imperial Guard Knight Order’s mass formula manifested with Andrei at its center.
It was a desperate strike created by synchronizing the Imperial Guard Knight Order’s magic imprint [Shield of Radiance].
Blast-!
The enormous light shot forth in a straight line, synchronized with Andrei’s control.
Feeling that tremendous magical power, Andrei thought.
‘He destroyed the elevator to block the knights’ approach and bought time through the anti-air network.’
The Duke, burning with the need to capture the Emperor before he escaped, would have no choice but to come here alone.
If they could drive this amplified mass formula into the Duke thus isolated…
If they could do that, they might be able to defeat this seven stroke mage.
And so, the beam of light shot without hesitation struck the Duke’s body directly-
Boom—!
The roar and impact shook the palace top incessantly.
The Imperial Guard Knight Order’s secret technique that poured all magical power into penetrating power.
Even a seven stroke mage shouldn’t be able to survive taking this head-on.
Thinking this, the knights were preparing their next technique, but.
“Futile.”
Along with the Duke’s cold words, tremendous pressure shook everyone present.
“Ugh!?”
“Impossible, he blocked it…!”
The Duke stared at them without a single wound.
And behind such Duke, something massive was rising.
“I don’t remember how many years it’s been since I activated [Domain].”
Rumble-!
A giant upper body made of magical power crystals.
Magical power swirling around its parts, and gleaming eyes shining between them.
Behind the Duke, a giant formed of magical power crystals had revealed itself.
“That is…!”
[Avatar]
The pinnacle of crystal magic that Buckenheim had researched for many years revealed its noble form.
Growl……
The [Avatar] that appeared behind the Duke moved aside the massive shield blocking the front and raised its sword.
The mass formula deployed together by dozens of Imperial Guards and Andrei couldn’t break through that shield.
“The spirit to protect your lord with meager strength. And loyalty. You are worthy to be called an exemplar of knights, Sir Andrei.”
The Duke spoke while looking at Andrei.
“Your only sin was choosing the wrong lord to serve.”
“…!”
“The dagger you’ve nurtured will be no different.”
Screech—!
As the Duke’s magic circuit activated, numerous magical power crystals rose into the air.
Each one contained extreme magical power, the essence of magical power.
The Duke looked at them with satisfied eyes, then lightly waved his hand.
Roar—!
With a roar, the Duke’s [Avatar] swung the sword it held.
Dozens of magical power crystals floating in the air.
When he struck them with the sword, they transformed into massive bullets of condensed magical power that assaulted the knights.
Boom—!
Along with the roar, thick smoke rose.
Thud. Thud thud.
What remained where the smoke cleared was only pieces of flesh from the many Imperial Guards.
However, the Duke’s brow furrowed for a moment as he looked at the scene.
“Huff… Kuh, kuhuh…!”
Andrei, standing alone amidst the knights’ corpses.
The blood-covered old knight was taking heavy breaths while keeping his sword thrust into the ground.
“Andrei!”
“You blocked it?”
The attack was aimed at the Emperor behind him too, yet he’s alive?
Moreover, the Emperor behind him was completely unharmed?
“A mistake? Don’t say such ridiculous things, traitor.”
Andrei rose while gritting his teeth and shouted at the Duke.
“I, Andrei Leonhardt! Shield protecting the Empire and sword guarding His Imperial Majesty!”
“…!”
“Know that while I live, you cannot lay a finger on His Imperial Majesty–!”
A dying corpse daring to…
The Duke, grinding his teeth, immediately prepared his next spell.
“Then I shall surely kill you!”
Even so, he only blocked one attack.
Though unexpected, the difference in power was clear after all.
Roar–!
Creating a massive magical power crystal, the Duke’s avatar immediately struck it with its sword.
The crystal of destruction flying like a shell toward Andrei.
“Your Majesty-!”
Andrei, deploying a barrier while standing before the Emperor, spoke with a smiling face.
“It was an honor to serve by your side.”
And the next moment.
Boom—!
A roar incomparable to before shook the entire Imperial Palace.
An impact that blew away the entire area behind the throne.
Yet when the Duke looked toward where the Emperor was, he clenched his fist while grinding his teeth.
The Emperor was alive.
He had blocked his attack pulled to maximum output twice.
“You force me to use rough measures.”
Shring-!
Perhaps angered that his attack was blocked.
The Duke, creating a sword of crystal, walked step by step toward the throne where the Emperor sat.
“I shall take back what’s mine, Emperor Friedrich.”
“What’s yours?”
“The Empire must be placed in the hands of the heroes who saved it.”
Even as the cold blade drew closer, the Emperor faced the Duke with fearless eyes.
“No.”
In that final moment that had come.
The Emperor looked at the Duke and spoke quietly to him.
“The Empire belongs to its people, Karl.”
“…”
“As it was before, and shall continue to be.”
Perhaps those words touched something in the Duke.
“A futile dream, Emperor.”
With those brief words, the Duke thrust his sword into the Emperor’s heart.
The Emperor’s body was pierced through the chest by the Duke’s crystal magic.
Along with the intense pain of his heart being pierced, strength rapidly drained from his entire body.
‘With this… my plan…’
In this final moment of death that had finally come.
In his fading consciousness, a completely different scene appeared before his eyes.
“This is…”
A gentle breeze blowing.
The blue sky.
And beneath that sky, the brightly smiling faces of countless people.
Through the familiar sensation, the Emperor could realize.
This was precognition.
His power that hadn’t worked for years had manifested in the moment of death.
“Ah…”
The Emperor looked at the scene of the future spread out before him after so long.
It wasn’t a future of destruction covered in monsters.
The future he had so desperately tried to open, where people lived happily.
That future was spread before his eyes.
“Yes, I see.”
And the turning point where that future of destruction changed was none other than his own death.
That fact brought joy to the Emperor meeting his death.
This death that he had directly arranged.
His choice had changed this country’s future.
“I too…”
The Emperor smiled brightly one last time before dying.
“I, too, was a spark that would change the future.”
As his consciousness severed, the Emperor peacefully went to sleep.
Imperial Emperor Friedrich Franz Kalhyram.
Along with the clear scene to come in the future, the Empire’s final Emperor closed his eyes.
***
Thud-!
The Emperor’s lifeless body rolled down from the throne.
A seemingly futile end.
Yet his face retained a satisfied smile.
“What is there to smile about?”
With this, the Empire would fall under the Round Table’s control.
Once the stronghold cities at the border fell, suppressing the Kalhyram Army in the Republic would only be a matter of time.
Then why was this man smiling?
As he suspiciously observed this for a moment.
“…Wait, surely not?!”
Buckenheim started in shock and rolled up the dead Emperor’s sleeve.
A long, carved scar.
As a mage, Duke Buckenheim immediately recognized what kind of scar that was.
That was the mark of a magic imprint being extracted.
“Damn it all-!”
“Your Grace!”
The Duke shouting in unprecedented anger.
The knights who had just joined rushed to the Duke upon confirming the Emperor’s corpse.
“Your Grace, what’s wrong?”
“Tell Duke Nachtval! We must secure the border region as quickly as possible and find Keiren…! No, Eugene Lorentz!”
Eugene?
Why suddenly mention the one at the western edge of the Republic…?
As they were thinking this, the Duke grinding his teeth spoke while glaring at the Emperor’s corpse.
“The magic imprint passed down through the imperial family. [Constellation Gazing at the Stars] has disappeared.”
The symbol of the imperial family given along with succession to the throne.
The magic imprint that was like a key declaring one as the ruler of the Empire.
The Emperor’s imprint that should have been implanted in the First Prince was gone.
Author's Thoughts
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