Chapter 294: Half-baked Revolution (9)
The cleanup went faster than I first thought.
The people cheered fervently at us, who had become the new Empire’s ent.i.tled officials, and the Civil Revolution Group shouted in honor of today’s victory. According to Oscar, it was a victory for both the people and the imperialists. Though I thought differently, I chose to stay quiet.
It was my aim that the majority of the people thought they had made this revolution.
‘That’s good. That’s good.’
No matter how I thought about this, I had no choice but to nod satisfactorily.
The voices asking to bring the guillotine and cut the throats of the G.o.ddess’s rebels were rising, but the executives and n.o.bles of the revolutionary group, especially Charlotte, would not want such a brutal task.
Their treatment should have been done legally, but also humanely and democratically. It meant they would have to get a fair trial on the surface.
Of course, this trial would move in the direction the new ent.i.tled officials want, but it was important to instill hope that this regime would be different. The results would just be the same, anyway.
The important thing was, ‘Who is being executed and who is having a toast?’
‘It’s sweet to be on the winner’s side.’
The Emperor and Charlia couldn’t be helped, but most of the n.o.bles who got on the wrong side would also have their heads blown away.
In fact, I could say that this was a positive side of this revolution.
This was an opportunity to sort out the incapacitated trash centered on Charlia at once. I was sure that Charlotte would not be able to refute this opinion.
Blood had to be spilled, but the fact that the n.o.bles who exploited the imperial people would have completely disappeared remains the same.
There were cities where the revolution had not yet been completely finished, but I could bet that it would meet the same ending within a few hours. Things were getting more and more fun.
Lee Jihye, who quietly took a seat next to me, seemed to be thinking similarly to me, seeing that she was smiling.
“You seem to be in a good mood.”
“It’s not bad.”
“Oppa.”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry to say this during such a good time, but is it okay to talk about work for a moment? Some things need to be done right now.”
“Of course, Nuna.”
“Well… first, it’s about the grain or goods stored in the Imperial Palace.”
“I think you can check the important things separately, store them, and take care of the rest. Sort by item and store things that you think will be really helpful here…”
“Well… then, as you said, it would be better to keep the goods and the items stored in the warehouse of the Imperial Palace first and open all the grains. I don’t think it’s bad to take on victory right now. I think there will be a little left, though…”
“Then give some of them to n.o.bles or something. The western and southern n.o.bles are also stocking up a lot, so it’s not going to run out right away. Rather than that, how about the outside? Did it turn out well?”
“I’m still busy moving the corpses. I thought I did it quickly, but there were a little more dead than I expected.”
“Fair enough, since the knights and wizards possessed by the imperial castle aren’t suckers. I was fortunate that Hee-ra was holding on to Victor Hart. If it weren’t for that, things would have been a little harder. Even if that old man had gone on the front line, he wouldn’t be able to cut through the imperial people… still, he is one of the symbols of the Empire.”
“He is.”
“Oh. And put all the dead in the National Cemetery, Nuna. It would be nice to sweep away unnecessary s.p.a.ce on the Imperial Palace’s side and build a national cemetery for the Democratic Fighters in the corner. Also, don’t forget the tombs of our democratic fighters Argimo and Bark Teoku. For those who are a bit important, make the tombstone a little taller.”
“It’s too hard for that… aren’t you giving me too much work? I’m busy enough already…”
“I have my own work to do.”
“I don’t know. It doesn’t look that way… This isn’t what someone who is drinking leisurely would say.”
“This is all real life. Maybe in a little while, you will get really busy. Originally, in this kind of thing, it’s more difficult to pick up the pieces than to start.”
In fact, there were not just one or two things to worry about. Although we tried to reduce property damage as much as possible, the amount of damage would be enormous as the people from all over the Empire had joined us.
Right now, I was able to withstand my personal property, the goods I had acc.u.mulated in the imperial city, and the Holy side donations. Still, the problem was a little more serious in the case of the cities where the production facility itself was damaged.
The fact that most of the useful knights were dead was also a problem.
When I first appeared, I enjoyed a comfortable life from the safe rear, so I could not check the actual battle scene in detail, but the Empire’s appearance after the battle was definitely disastrous.
There were also many imperialists cut with a single swing, and those who could not be protected with magic ended up completely burned.
In fact, what had been worse than them were the Emperor’s soldiers who rebelled against the G.o.ddess.
That would be an indicator that the anger of the people was great. Of course, there were also deaths among foreigners.
Since it was to deal with famous knights and wizards, it was an unavoidable sacrifice, but the Eight Seats of the Empire, or named such as Lindel’s Gal Oshik, and Imridan did not lose their lives.
If the Emperor hadn’t been shown running away in real-time, the battle would have been a little longer, and more damage would have occurred.
In fact, such internal problems could be fixed somehow as long as time would permit it.
‘Republic, United Kingdom, Heterogeneous Kingdom.’
Although it prevented foreign forces from jumping on the bandwagon of the revolution or attacking, taking advantage of the chaos, the current Holy Empire was in a situation where its power had been cut off.
The first concern was how the United Kingdom would think of this revolution, how the Republic would react to the suddenly changed regime, and whether different tribes would send their delegations.
In short, this had been a heavy blow for the continent. Whether it was positive or negative is was known yet.
As I quietly looked away, I could see Lee Jihye quietly leaving.
She would have her things to sort out, but she left for a moment due to the sudden appearance of a guest.
“Something happened, Charlotte-nim?”
Charlotte had a strangely heated expression.
Seeing her holding a wine gla.s.s in one hand, it seemed she was a little drunk.
“I’d like to move… to a quiet place.”
It was true that the voice that seemed to be openly drunk made me somehow anxious, but I willingly nodded.
Jung Hayan would be looking at me anyway, and Park Deokgu would be keeping an eye on me, so my safety was guaranteed.
‘There’s no way this woman would suddenly throw a knife.’
“Yes. It would be better to do that.”
I felt like a gentleman escorting a lady at a party like this.
As I slightly extended my hand, I could see her holding it with a reluctant face. Like the last handshake, her hands were filled with emotion, and it hurt.
As I stepped forward and opened the huge window, I saw a balcony where two people could talk in private. She took a seat on one side, and I took a seat, too.
‘She wouldn’t push me from here, right?’
These scary thoughts continued to envelop me. However, seeing that she had begun to speak quietly, it seemed that she hadn’t called me here to kill me.
“Why did you save me?”
Ah, what an interesting question. Of course, I didn’t know how to properly answer it, but I could still try. I couldn’t tell her Hyunsung’s request, after all.
“It must be for a similar reason as Charlotte-nim told me. Didn’t you say that the Empire at that time needed people to watch out for the public eye? Haha. That’s exactly why. There is no reason to pretend. Oh. If you doubt that, then I will change the answer. The reason is that I had no reason to pretend with you.”
“There is no reason to pretend…”
“Aren’t you a fellow who has been running toward the revolution together? Of course, there was a little difference between our methods, but in the end, it produced the ideal results for both. The imperial people won, and the existing privileged and deep-rooted evils forces lost their power.”
“And new privileged and deep-rooted evils forces took their place. You, and the people with you.”
“I don’t like the way you talk, but I’ll just smile and let it pa.s.s. Charlotte, even if this revolution had been completed as a bloodless revolution, it would have been inevitable for new privileged and new deep-rooted evils forces to settle. That’s because the n.o.bles under you are not by your side. They do not have the same dream as yours. Of course, I don’t know if there is one or two who really want to realize the same ideal as you, but the vast majority of the n.o.bles in your camp would not choose to let go of their power.”
This was an undeniable fact. Charlotte looked as if she also agreed with me on this front.
“It’s no different from drugs. The power to move the people being on top is like drugs. n.o.ble idealists like Charlotte-nim may not know this well, but most n.o.bles will agree with me.”
“So that’s why you killed the people. That power you call drugs has forced countless imperialists and innocent soldiers to die.”
“I’m not the one who killed the people. They fought for the value they wanted. If you say the sublime sacrifice of the democratic fighters is meaningless, do you think that the empire people will like it?”
“They didn’t die for the value they want. You are brainwashing the imperial people. You released fabricated information, agitated them, and pushed them to the edge.”
“It’s not me who had been pushing. It was done by the n.o.bles and royal families of this country. It doesn’t mean there was no such thing as a hoax, but what the G.o.ddess’ mirror was reflecting was based on facts, Charlotte-nim.”
“There was no need to… There was no need to do this!”
As she slammed the table on the balcony, the table cracked. I knew she was strong, but it was a little unnerving to see such a display of strength.
I knew what picture Charlotte really wanted, but even if I tried to refute it before my greed, it would never be able to get refuted.
“So, as you wish, if an honorary revolution had really happened… Do you think a lot would be changed from now? I bet it could have gotten worse, but it wouldn’t have gotten better.”
“At least it wouldn’t have spilled a lot of blood. No, before that, we wouldn’t have faced these different situations. The existing production facilities would have been preserved, and the troops would have remained intact and would have resisted other countries’ intervention. It would not have instilled disharmony in the United Kingdom, and many imperial people would not have to lose their families.”
“I can agree that the side effects could be minimized, but it would not have been without side effects. This is not meaningless death, Charlotte. It is important that the imperial people spill some blood and rise on their own. If you had intervened, the imperial people of this country would have lived their entire lives pa.s.sively. The next time I face this kind of situation, I won’t move thinking someone like you will help.”
“That’s a leap in your logic.”
“It’s not a leap, Charlotte. You may not know, but the history of foreigners is evidence of this. Humans are a kind who do not realize unless they learn. The same goes for the ruler and the ruled. The ruled must try to pull the ruler down with its own hands, without the help of people like you. They must try to kill their king. That’s historical learning, Charlotte.”
“Humans are not so stupid. I don’t know what you think of humans, but…”
“No. Humans are stupid. Not everyone lives with an ideal like you. There are surely humans who can’t realize by themselves and only understand by learning. That’s why this will help. It spilled a lot of blood, but it must have been a great lesson. Later, the rulers will fear the ruled, and the ruled will also remember that they can pull them down and cut their throats. Charlotte, you said you need someone who knows how to do politics that watch out for the public eye. From now on, I bet those who have been in charge will be compelled to watch out for the public. It’s only half, but I don’t think the output I’ve made can be better than this. I am a conscientious person and not someone who exploits the imperial people. This victory will be remembered not as my victory, but as an imperial people’s victory, and this history will remain in the hearts of the imperial people forever.”
I could see Charlotte, who listened to me, trying to open her mouth again.
She would certainly want to refute, and there would be a lot to refute. However, if we were to continue talking, it would be me who would seem like the fool.
I then stood up.
“I! I have… one last question.”
“Yes.”
“Did you… foreigner’s country…”
“Yes. Surely, on the surface, it is a country in which the people have sovereignty.”
“Is it… Is it…”
“Ahhh. I guess I know what question you’re asking. Well… I think this is the only thing I can tell you.”
“…”
“Either here or there, the privileged do the same thing , anyway.”
I didn’t want to break the dream of a girl who believed in Santa Claus, but the reality was indeed cruel. As I left Charlotte with her head hanging down, I could see Jung Hayan and Yuno Kasugano coming up to meet me.
Everyone seemed to be spending their time in their own way.
I had been thinking a lot, but as always, time would make me forget everything.
In their own way, some would share joy, and others would dwell on regret. The privileged would always be there, as always.
As usual.
As always.
And in that line of thinking, a little time had pa.s.sed.