Do Your Own Revolution

#009.

“The Captain’s nephew…”

In a private room on the second floor of the hideout.

A boy with a delicate face that didn’t match the shabby building was chewing on bread with a dubious expression.

The boy’s name was Claude Elcidore.

He was thinking about the child named Leon whom he had heard about from afar.

Parents who sacrificed their lives to escape the detention camp to save their child, and a child who sought out the Revolutionary Army to avenge such parents.

As a member of the Revolutionary Army, it was a heart-warming story, but he couldn’t hide his suspicious feelings.

“It matches too well to dismiss as coincidence.”

It had been a week since he, the heir to the Elcidore family, had joined the Revolutionary Army.

A child escaping from Elcidore at such a time – anyone would find it suspicious.

Several other members seemed to share similar thoughts, but…

“Then again, I’m not in a position to say anything.”

Though he had devoted himself to the Revolutionary Army, their gaze toward him wasn’t friendly.

This was Belkers, Elcidore’s territory.

The first-generation Revolutionary Army members who had been persecuted by his father Lupeon were still clamoring for Claude to be expelled.

They were more suspicious of him than of the questionable kid named Leon.

In the end, Claude could only sigh toward the floor.

‘No, don’t get discouraged here. This is what you prepared for from the start.’

After a moment of gloom, Claude shook his head and steadied his resolve.

The moment he fled the mansion, he had made a vow.

To judge Lupeon who caused his mother’s death, and to overturn the corrupt empire.

For that, he would endure anything and achieve everything!

Recalling the oath he made that day in the dark cell, Claude gritted his teeth.

“Two days. I just need to endure until then.”

He had been told he would receive training at the Revolutionary Army headquarters in the capital, not here.

They said there were many nobles-turned-Revolutionary Army members in the capital, so he should be able to properly operate there.

So if he could just endure until then… Then…

“Huh?”

As Claude was trying to soothe his troubled mind, someone knocked on his door.

“Who is it? There shouldn’t be anyone looking for me except Staff Officer Girael.”

As Claude muttered this and opened the door, there stood a truly unexpected figure.

“You…?”

A boy four or five years younger than himself.

Leon, whom he had just been thinking suspicious of, was standing there looking at him.

No, that wasn’t the issue right now.

The blood soaked thoroughly on his face and body.

What was that about…?

“In place of Lord Lupeon who is not present, I deliver this message to Young Master Claude Elcidore.”

Claude’s brief confusion turned to dismay.

As soon as the name Lupeon left the boy’s lips, Claude’s face turned deathly pale.

“No, it can’t be…!”

He had just met this child today.

Yet this child knew Claude’s name and family name, and even managed to find his room.

There was only one fact this situation revealed.

Claude’s prediction had come true.

“Everything that happens from now on is entirely your doing.”

In the most desperate way he could imagine.

***

“That was too hasty an action, Refin.”

In the underground conference room of the Revolutionary Army hideout.

Sitting across from Refin, Girael spoke while looking at the liquor in his dented cup.

“It was just yesterday that we announced the Young Master Elcidore’s defection in the revolutionary newspaper. Taking in a child of unclear background at such a sensitive time – it’s unthinkable.”

“Ha, are you saying that child is an Elcidore spy?”

“We’re dealing with Elcidore. We must keep all possibilities open.”

Hearing Girael’s words, Refin likewise emptied his cup of liquor.

Now they’re even suspecting children?

He could feel how the fatigue from constant battles was eating away at Girael’s mind.

“Girael, I understand your anxiety. I also don’t think Elcidore let that child go unscathed.”

“Then why did you let that child…!”

“Because we’re different from them.”

Girael’s words stopped at Refin’s single statement.

Seeing this, Refin patted his shoulder and spoke as if to soothe him.

“Girael, we are the Revolutionary Army. Wings of freedom bound by bonds and beliefs. If we fall into paranoid suspicion and turn away our comrades and their children, who would stand with our Revolutionary Army?”

“That’s…”

“C-Captain! Captain!”

As Refin was in the middle of persuading Girael, a Revolutionary Army soldier came running breathlessly toward the two.

“Garrison? What’s the sudden matter?”

Seeing the soldier rushing over frantically, Refin and Girael’s faces frowned simultaneously.

They should be keeping their voices down to avoid potential inspections, yet he was being so loud.

However, the news that flowed from the soldier’s mouth was even more shocking.

“Young Master Claude has d-disappeared!”

“What?”

“…No, what do you mean all of a sudden? Disappeared? Young Master Claude?”

The moment Refin and Girael asked simultaneously at the sudden news.

Along with the siren, the hideout began to shake everywhere.

“A-An attack!”

“Everyone up! The hideout has been discovered…!”

“Why didn’t the alarm go off?! What were the guards doing?!”

Hearing the soldiers’ screams, Refin and Girael hurriedly left the conference room.

The Revolutionary Army hideout disguised as a bar had already turned into hell.

Unidentified attackers wearing gas masks. They were decimating the Revolutionary Army soldiers who still lacked proper training.

Some soldiers who regained their senses pulled out rifles, but even that wasn’t enough.

Ice harpoons fired from their right hands flew toward the soldiers’ heads, and those made of magical power tore through the soldiers’ brains like paper.

“E-Everyone evacuate! Take the secret passage to hideout number 2…! Kuaak?!”

Despite the sudden raid, Girael was commanding the soldiers when he suddenly screamed.

“Girael-!”

Unlike himself who had a magic imprint implanted, Girael was a civilian without combat power. Refin shifted his gaze belatedly, but it was already too late.

A blue blade was embedded in Girael’s chest that entered Refin’s field of vision.

“G-Girael! No, no…!”

“Protect the Captain!”

“This way!”

The soldiers who quickly regained their senses supported Refin and ran toward the corner of the building.

The screams of soldiers echoing throughout the corridors, and blood splattered everywhere.

The Revolutionary Army hideout had now become hell.

***

How much time had passed?

Having barely repelled the attack, Refin was dragging his wound-covered body toward the second hideout that had been prepared in advance.

The soldiers who had been guarding him were already slaughtered, and he was also injured while fighting them.

Finally, he stopped in a dark alley.

He was briefly recovering his tired body by drawing magical power stored in his magic imprint.

“Uncle!”

However, at that moment, a young boy’s voice called out to Refin.

Uncle.

When Refin turned his head at those words, there stood Leon, his nephew.

“Leon…?”

The face of his nephew found after 10 years.

Just as Refin was about to feel relieved seeing the child’s face, he recalled what Girael had said earlier at the hideout.

‘Could it be, Leon?’

“Uncle?”

At the voice calling him again, Refin flinched and looked at Leon’s face.

Leon looking up at him with anxious eyes.

His shoulders trembling continuously, appearing to anyone as a frightened child.

However…

‘This child who disappeared from the hideout… Why is he here of all places right now?’

When coincidence repeats twice, it’s no longer coincidence. As Refin recalled Girael’s face shouting at him, at that moment,

As his vision turned red, Refin’s head could no longer think.

“Uh, uh…?”

What his nephew held was the same dagger as the intruders.

The blade that pierced his neck had torn through Refin’s artery.

“Leo… Le-Leon…!”

Collapsed on the ground, Refin asked Leon.

Though he could barely pronounce words with blood filling his throat, even then Refin was reaching out toward Leon.

“Wh-Why…?”

“You should have listened to the staff officer. Showing favoritism because of family ended up getting the whole organization wiped out. Right?”

However, Leon’s… no, Eugene’s eyes looking at such a Refin were nothing but cold.

“Come to think of it, even among NPCs, you were especially useless. While being no help at all, you had so much damn backstory to sell, going on about who died in which corner…”

“Wh-What…?”

Leon, who had been muttering to himself, sneered at the choking Refin.

Gone was the childlike appearance he had shown until just now, replaced by a jaded, languid voice.

Moreover, what was he saying now? Game? NPC?

Not a single thing he said made any sense.

“St-Stop tal…”

“Ah, no need to know. Just letting you know.”

As if there was no need to say more, Eugene twisted the dagger piercing Refin’s neck.

“Throughout the whole game, I never liked you guys.”

A murder without a shred of emotion, like butchering meat at a butcher shop.

As his spine severed, Refin’s body that had been struggling collapsed to the ground like a puppet with cut strings.

A revolutionary fallen in a pool of blood from his own neck.

However, Eugene didn’t even glance at that horrific sight, instead stretching as if having completed a task.

“When you were allies, you were really damn frustrating, but meeting as enemies makes this so easy.”

As he muttered incomprehensible words, Knifehead members appeared behind Eugene.

Team 1 who had raided the hideout to support Eugene. A familiar face walked out among them.

“Supervisor Ben.”

The supervisor of Knifehead, Ben.

Given the situation, he too had come to the field directly to command the mission.

“What of Young Master Claude?”

“I knocked him out and handed him over to Team 2. They should have arrived at the mansion by now, but…”

Just as Eugene’s report continued, magical power communication arrived for all members at the scene.

[Team 2 annihilated. Target currently fleeing toward airfield after joining with unidentified male.]

What was this about.

They had eliminated all of the Revolutionary Army, but there was someone else helping Claude?

Moreover, Team 2 who were escorting Claude were annihilated?

While they were bewildered by the unexpected situation, Ben let out a deep sigh and spoke through gritted teeth.

“Causing trouble until the end. Damn brat.”

The sharp killing intent felt in those words.

As the surrounding members swallowed dry saliva, Ben ordered Eugene and the other members.

“Signal team, relay this. As of now, remnant hunting and hideout sweep mission transferred to Knight Order. All Knifehead members are to pursue Young Master Claude.”

After finishing his words, Ben handed a gas mask to Eugene.

Taking it, Eugene secretly slumped his shoulders.

Just when he thought it was finally over, more overtime. Talk about being cursed with work.