Do Your Own Revolution-Chapter 160
#160
“Ruinberg Defense Command, currently not responding.”
With the communication officer’s words, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy.
“What was the last communication received?”
“There was a report requesting support while engaging the Knight Order. Given that…….”
“Communication interference. So the Knight Order has finally made their move.”
The sudden news of the Emperor’s death from the Empire was enough to shock the generals at the front lines.
After Emperor Friedrich’s death, First Prince Meldir seized imperial authority.
He was nothing more than a puppet of the magic nobles.
“We’ve been stabbed in the back at the most opportune time. Are you alright, Keiren?”
“How could I be? I expected this, but I didn’t think they’d be this brazen about it.”
Prince Meldir, having claimed the imperial throne, took immediate action.
He summoned the Knight Order to the imperial capital and ordered them to take control of Ruinberg, the supply base of the Kalhyram Army.
However, there was no way the Kalhyram Army leadership, who had been in opposition to the magic nobles, would accept this.
Led by Keiren, the military leadership maintained their opposition, demanding explanations about the Emperor’s sudden death, the refusal to show his body, and the contents reported in the revolutionary newspaper.
So how did the imperial family respond to this?
It was simple.
The imperial court under Prince Meldir mobilized the Knight Order to raid the residences of military leadership and attempt to kidnap their families.
“How is the evacuation progressing? Are there any new reports?”
“Nothing yet. Most have completed their evacuation, but Young Lady Mari…….”
“…….”
Keiren’s expression darkened at the Intelligence Department agent’s report.
Thanks to the Intelligence Department’s covert operations, very few people had actually been taken hostage.
However, Mari, who had been operating in the homeland to extract these people, had not yet managed to escape the Empire.
‘If Mari gets caught.’
He would have to abandon her.
Considering the fate of countless others resting on his shoulders, there would be no other choice.
But was that really necessary?
‘If Mari disappears, if she ends up like that because of me, I…….’
Thoughts. And guilt.
As Keiren’s face grew increasingly devastated, while a gloomy air circled the room.
“Re-report from the 5th Airship Fleet-!”
A communication officer came running in breathlessly, delivering the news they had been waiting for.
“Princess Marlene and key personnel being evacuated have successfully escaped the Empire! They are heading to Central Command in conjunction with the transport unit under the 5th Fleet!”
“Ooh-!”
“Mission successful. Now we have nothing holding us back.”
Mari is safe.
Hearing those words, Keiren’s legs nearly gave out for a moment.
However, he couldn’t show such weakness here.
Keiren deliberately gathered his composure and spoke while feigning calmness.
“With this, we’ve evacuated all key personnel of the Kalhyram Army.”
“The Intelligence Department’s help was invaluable. Without them, this would have been much more complicated.”
Throughout the war, the Imperial Intelligence Department’s attention was focused not on the Republic, but within the Empire itself.
The movement of magic noble forces, flow of supplies, conversations between key figures.
They had tracked the movements of magic nobles in the homeland throughout the war, allowing them to predict their actions.
‘To think they tracked and documented every single move of even baron-ranked lower nobles….’
Beyond persistence, it bordered on obsession.
Seeing the report handed over by the Intelligence Department, Keiren could only shake his head in amazement.
Intelligence Bureau Director Rebecca.
This woman must also harbor considerable grudges against the magic nobles.
“We’ve succeeded in hiding our vulnerabilities, but this won’t last long, Keiren.”
Those words came from Lieutenant General Beckier, commander of the Southern Army Group.
He put down the cigarette he had been smoking while examining the documents provided by the Intelligence Department.
“In the end, the one sitting at the top of the imperial palace is Prince Meldir…. No, it would be Duke Buckenheim who’s pulling the strings of that puppet.”
Even if they’ve avoided the immediate threat, they can’t maintain this situation indefinitely.
Moreover, Lieutenant General Beckier’s concerns didn’t end there.
“Looking at the Knight Order’s movement routes and personnel organization, the Knight Order currently stationed in Ruinberg is Nachtval.”
“…….”
“To make matters worse, this armored train was spotted on the railway heading to Ruinberg.”
Lieutenant General Beckier finished speaking and placed down a photograph while tapping out his cigarette case.
An armored train with no artillery ports or gun slots, equipped only with armor plating.
It was Duke Nachtval’s property, made exclusively for Knight Order transport.
More important was the black eagle crest painted on the front of the train.
Keiren’s expression darkened as he recognized it.
“‘Guardian’, the special vehicle made exclusively for the head family.”
“You saw it right. This means that Duke Nachtval himself is present in Ruinberg now.”
A seven stroke mage.
And not just any—the second seat of a prestigious magic family has personally come.
Lieutenant General Beckier lit a cigarette and spoke to Keiren, who was holding the photograph.
“I know the Raikard Knight Order and Young Master Feilun have joined forces. However, they alone won’t be enough.”
Feilun had volunteered for the Ruinberg defense through correspondence.
Though he had intended to head to the imperial capital to protect His Majesty, the Emperor had sent him here instead.
Then this must be the Emperor’s order to protect Ruinberg.
And additionally, here he wished to clash with Duke Nachtval… with his father.
“They’re no match against a seven stroke mage.”
As Beckier said this, he recalled the scene of Keiren’s son-in-law, Eugene Lorentz, fighting.
The sight of him matching the Colossus equally back then seemed to have left a strong impression on him.
“We need to establish a secondary stronghold. Losing the railway will hurt, but we still have the air fleet. If we utilize it well…….”
“No, that won’t be necessary.”
Seeing Beckier muttering anxiously, Keiren smiled slightly and spoke.
“You’re currently underestimating our most important fighting force.”
“Most important fighting force?”
What force could be more important than Feilun, a six stroke mage?
Looking at Beckier thinking this way, Keiren smiled and put a cigarette in his mouth.
“…Don’t tell me you’re talking about the Special Magical Power Unit?”
“I’m glad you catch on quick.”
“Wait a moment. I know your unit members are extraordinary, but… don’t they have clear limitations?”
Mass-produced three-stroke imprints implanted in a factory, mages completed by boosting output with magic bullets.
Their standardized spells and unified magical power structure were certainly efficient, but individually, their power naturally falls short against knights with imprints of the same stroke level.
What falls particularly short is their combat endurance.
The more magical power is injected through magic bullets, the more the magic imprint overloads, and magical power and combat fatigue accumulate quickly.
That’s why the Special Magical Power Unit was inherently a unit that demonstrated maximum efficiency when used offensively.
“Until now it wasn’t an issue since we were targeting the Republic, but for missions like the current Ruinberg where we need to defend a position for an extended period…….”
Lieutenant General Beckier poured out words, mobilizing all the knowledge he had gathered so far.
Watching Beckier do this, Keiren maintained his smile and opened his mouth.
“As expected, you’re quite brilliant.”
“What?”
Even from Keiren’s perspective, it was quite refreshing to see his long-time colleague showing fear.
“The tactical utility and pros and cons of the Special Magical Power Unit are secondary issues.”
Saying this, Keiren looked at Lieutenant General Beckier and asked.
“Beckier. Why was the Special Magical Power Unit created?”
“Obviously, to replace the role of the Knight Order….”
“No, that’s incorrect.”
Eugene.
The Emperor.
And this Special Magical Power Unit that I created wasn’t such a simple organization.
The existence known as magic nobles.
A unit created to completely erase knights, relics of the past, from history.
“The Special Magical Power Unit was created from the beginning to exterminate the Knight Order.”
“……!”
When first establishing the Special Magical Power Unit, the first thing Keiren did was investigate the Knight Order.
He searched through combat records stored in the imperial army archives.
Through informants, servants, and retired knights, he discovered the power possessed by the Knight Order.
[What spells do they use?]
[What are their effects and range?]
[What training do they receive, how do they live, and what combat methods do they employ?]
And based on the information gathered this way, the minds gathered in the Special Magical Power Unit conducted endless research.
They discovered ways to break spells, devised countermeasures, revised manuals and training processes, and continuously developed tactics.
And the war with the Republic became an opportunity to directly use these conceived tactics.
Hundreds of millions of Republic troops.
Waves of monsters numbering in the tens of millions.
The rapidly changing battlefield conditions and the days spent dealing with them while risking their lives.
The war with the Republic turned countless mages into corpses.
And upon those corpses.
The Special Magical Power Unit was finally completed.
“Three-stroke mages enhanced with magic bullets? Magical power and magic bullets are merely means to kill the enemy.”
“…….”
“A lower version of knights that makes up for power difference with numbers? If that’s what we wanted to make, it would have been much simpler to take control of the existing Magic Corps.”
Saying this, Keiren exhaled cigarette smoke while wearing a deep smile.
“Don’t misunderstand, Beckier. Young Master Feilun and the Raikard Knight Order are merely stones to hold them back.”
“…….”
“The core of the Ruinberg Defense Force. And the core of this Kalhyram Army has been the Special Magical Power Unit.”
And because of that, Keiren could confidently say.
That they could win.
These war machines, perfected through countless brushes with death and crises.
That they couldn’t be stopped by something like the Knight Order.
***
“What exactly is happening right now?”
As the battle continued, confusion crept across Duke Nachtval’s face.
Clang—!
“Number 5’s magical power depleted! This is it!”
“Number 12 will take over. Keep firing even with regular bullets! Keep them distracted!”
“Number 17 out!”
“Number 37 responding! Get out!”
When one barrier is broken, another mage deploys a barrier.
When attacked, they retreat, and other mages in perfect condition fill their position.
Though their numbers were steadily decreasing, he couldn’t move from this spot.
Not fatal, but severe injuries that would make combat impossible for at least a month.
While the mages kept the Duke occupied, consuming themselves one by one, they began driving back the Knight Order in conjunction with regular troops’ firepower.
“These bastards……!”
They don’t even think about winning.
Their purpose is singular: to bind the Duke in place.
And meanwhile, other Special Magical Power Unit members could hunt down the knights together with the regular troops.
“Heat dispersion complete!”
“Let them have it–!”
Boom–!
The artillery crews turning their guns from the sky to the ground, firing at the knights.
When they tried to switch to their specialty close combat, Special Magical Power Unit members with shotguns began suppressing them.
“The numbers don’t add up.”
Just as the Duke thought this and tried to do something more.
“Where are you looking?”
“……!”
Feilun, who had approached right up to his face, delivered a decisive strike.
Clang–!
A beam fired at maximum output.
The Domain shook, and a small wound appeared on the Duke’s cheek.
The Duke stepped back.
And that fact made the Duke feel a chilling sensation.
‘I was pushed back? Me, by such low-ranking mages?’
Only then did he realize.
These things standing before him now were elites worn down by battles with the Republic.
Unlike knights who had only practiced in training grounds, they were war machines tempered by real combat.
“Tch.”
Whoosh-!
The Duke, drawing out magical power at maximum output, released his power to disrupt their formation.
Though Feilun blocked it by deploying a barrier, he too was in a situation without sufficient magical power.
The Duke, assessing the battle situation, gritted his teeth and turned his back.
‘It’s possible to kill Feilun here, but if that happens, the Knight Order deployed here will be annihilated.’
With Buckenheim’s forces still intact in the center, he couldn’t afford losses in a place like this.
He needed to prepare for what comes next, not deal with them.
“Retreat-!”
With Duke Nachtval’s shout, the Knight Order began gradually falling back behind deployed barriers.
The First Ruinberg Defense Battle.
The result was a victory for the Ruinberg Defense Force.
Author's Thoughts
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