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◈ Chapter 168 - 21-Birth Movement

*

Broken windows and roads.

The capital, Octantium, is rolling around with a sign with a red message written on it, smashed.

As always, the sun rose in a place where ashes and unknown blood were mixed together and the scorched marks of broken glass bottles sparkled.

It was a morning that someone who dreamed of a new empire the night before would have desperately wanted.

They hung in the square and became fertilizer for the revolution.

"Damn you, the cross-dressing emperor! How dare you capture a student and kill him!"

"I heard they tried to drag away the professors and magnates who were in the palace. What on earth will happen to the country...?"

"Now, if we were to convene the Estates General, who would go? One way or another, dying would be the same thing."

The more blood flows, the more radical people become.

Once the festival, which was nominally intended to celebrate unity with the North, ended, there was nothing to suppress the anger of the citizens.

Like a snowball rolling from a ridge, it grew bigger every day and threatened to engulf the empire.

For example, unrest was constantly breaking out throughout the capital.

Government offices are burned and imperial troops are assaulted.

A Knight of the Holy Cross sent in to suppress the situation summarily executes the citizen.

Other citizens who saw this became angry and gathered people from other places again.

The Loeb Coalition organizes such citizens to push the empire further.

From the emperor's perspective, it was a series of vicious cycles.

To turn the situation around, the emperor took two measures.

One was to carefully select citizens friendly to the empire, give them weapons, and suppress revolutionaries in the name of maintaining public order.

Imperial citizens carrying clubs went up and down the streets, mercilessly suppressing anyone who showed even the slightest sign of abnormality.

"Hey, you! What are you doing there? Are you a revolutionary too?!"

"You bastards who are eating away at the empire! I'll break your legs so you can never walk again!"

Wearing a belt with a red cow on it, they threatened the revolutionaries.

They say they are citizens of the imperial faction, but in reality, they are workers who receive money from the empire.

Most of them were originally organized gangs in the shadows of the capital.

There was a reason why the empire hired thugs even though they knew that the empire was not viewed well.

This is because it was less of a burden on the empire for fellow citizens to form a vigilante group and suppress the revolution, rather than for the Knights of the Holy Cross to step forward and execute citizens directly.

It was also intended to show that the number of people who served the emperor was not small.

Because of the pattern drawn on the red belt, they were soon nicknamed the Jeokwoodan.

"Heh! Those disgusting enemy bastards! It would be a relief if they were completely wiped out!"

Even if they call themselves political thugs, they are ultimately ordinary people.

For a wizard, there was nothing to be afraid of.

However, because they were citizens on the outside, they could not pour out magic.

So the unrest came to a brief lull.

Then the emperor made a second move.

The gazette was distributed to change public opinion.

As Vienna and the revolutionary faction fled from the palace, the Central newspaper naturally closed down.

The Knights of the Holy Cross stormed in and took over the newspaper.

Like it or not, the people of the empire had no choice but to rely on rumors and official gazettes to find out about the chaos of the night before.

[Traitor Bjern, escape! Dreaming of overthrowing the empire by joining hands with the Robe Alliance.]

[The sin of the poor people is heavy. Amber Cutter, imprisoned in Bethille Prison!]

[The wizard's duty is to go to the magic tower, and the student's duty is to study.]

Gazette calligraphers scrambled to protect imperial power.

The editorial section was full of articles criticizing Björn's sins that had added to the chaos in the empire's crisis.

Ember Cutter's book was cleverly twisted to emphasize why an emperor is necessary.

The next chapter contains interviews with generals who earned military honors in war.

Unlike before, it was a more advanced propaganda technique.

"Yes, no matter how much you don't like the emperor, you can't do this during a war! What good is the hard work of the soldiers who are working hard for the empire!"

"It's not because the emperor has bad intentions, it's just that we should all live well, but isn't he being very rude?"

"We talked about things like natural human rights and freedom of speech, but in the end, Bjern was also an aristocrat who wanted power. Either way, we are just being used."

The spark of revolution was stirred by support for the emperor combined with the Yang Fei theory.

Taking advantage of the gap, the emperor convened the Estates General in the name of listening to the people.

Emperors, nobles, clergy,

Wizards and knights,

Merchants and officials.

The three leading figures of the empire gathered in the Peace Room.

"Most wizards did not attend, and many merchants and officials attended because money was at stake, but I guess it was just an assortment."

Duke von Lorraine, praised as the Chancellor of the Empire, glanced at the seats.

The emperor gets 2 votes.

Among the nobles, the imperial faction is more numerous, and most of the clergy are on the emperor's side, so one more vote.

Most of the knights in the capital are Knights of the True Cross.

It is easier to unite one's will than a wizard with many different opinions, so a total of 3 votes.

Even if merchants and officials were combined, it was a game where the emperor would ultimately get what he wanted.

"Welcome everyone. We feel confident that we have gathered here from all walks of life to join forces in the crisis of the empire."

The Emperor walked through the center of the Peace Chamber.

Even though he knew that the blade was shining under his chin, he felt sad.

Duke von Lorraine looked like a clown walking a tightrope.

Maybe moments like this were just everyday life for him.

Even before he became emperor, there must have been no crisis.

'Damn it. I've worked so hard for this time!'

There was no way to let go of my regret.

It felt like he could take the throne away if he just stretched out his hand.

However, he was a man whose life was more precious than the throne.

Now that he knew that Bjorn and Runea were on the same boat, the choices he could make were limited.

"Your Majesty, as you said, the empire is currently in crisis."

The first to step forward was a Viscount belonging to the noble faction.

At the command of Duke von Lorraine, he raised a flag from the front to guide public opinion in the Estates General.

"The day is not far when the Lighthouse of Humanity returns to Your Majesty and the Empire becomes one again. However, now that the Empire is in disarray due to the recent incident caused by Bjern, why not take some time to relax?"

Talk is about meetings and talks, but ultimately, politics is a puppet show that moves as planned.

Those who ask for what they want and those who oppose it.

And in the meantime, they put pressure on the emperor by pretending to coordinate appropriately.

The opposite was also true.

"Leisure. What do you mean by leisure?"

The chair in the center can only be used by the emperor.

The Emperor, who was sitting there at an angle with one leg raised, looked down at the Viscount.

"I think we should stop the war with the Kingdom of Junta and take time to regroup."

"Are this Viscount's intentions the same as yours?"

The emperor asked, looking down at the audience.

At that time, an official who sympathized with this spoke out.

"Your Majesty, I also believe that it is appropriate to establish a proper parliament, rather than an Estates General meeting that is held occasionally, to listen to the voices of the people of the empire. I believe that the wind blowing in the capital is ultimately the dissatisfaction of citizens whose voices cannot reach Your Majesty. Parliament If this happens, citizens will also bow their heads to His Majesty's kindness."

"Is this also the same as yours?"

The emperor asked again.

The crowd was quiet.

Duke von Lorraine, who was trying to pressure the emperor, felt something strange.

'The imperial faction needs to come out and say something to refute it. However, there is no excessive response.'

Looking at it another way, it means that you have no intention of persuading with words.

Duke von Lorraine, who was well-known in politics, instinctively knew what this meant.

He waved a hand to block the Baron who was trying to follow the script next to him.

At the end of the short silence, the emperor spoke in a dry voice.

"But what you say is the same as the rioters talking outside."

"Yes?"

"Wouldn't it be in accordance with the law to treat those who make noise like a rioter like a rioter?"

At the same time, the Knight of the Holy Cross cut off the heads of the two people who had spoken.

The viscount and the official died in the peace room without even being able to scream.

"Huh!"

"Oh my God...!"

During the Estates General, nobles and officials who expressed opinions in the peace room were killed.

This was clearly something a tyrant would do.

"There is no need for rioters when discussing the cause of the empire. I hope you all agree with me."

The emperor ultimately made his choice.

Decided to shed blood to protect the imperial throne.

Duke von Lorraine looked at him with an astonished expression.

The emperor will kill anyone who disagrees here, regardless of whether they are nobles or commoners.

This has already gone far beyond the realm of political affairs.

At least within the Estates General, Duke von Lorraine had no means of buying time by using factions.

The Estates General will become a scarecrow and produce the results the emperor wants, and quickly promulgate the contents to the empire.

The merchant would bring money to the emperor.

The Human Lighthouse Corps and wizards will all be conscripted and taken to the front lines for causing chaos.

If that happens, the noble faction will also lose its ground.

'It is unclear whether the law promulgated by the Estates General will be enforced, but it still gives the emperor a justification to use force!'

In Octantium, there is the elite of the Knights of the Holy Cross and a magic brigade that are dormant for the defense of the capital.

In addition, there is a possibility that the magic tower lord and sword saint will also be put into full force if the Estates General agrees.

If they went forward with a cause behind them, there was nothing they could do, no matter how powerful the revolutionary faction was.

Blood will soak the sea off Octantium, but the emperor seems to have already made up his mind.

"Then let's start the Estates General in earnest."

Duke von Lorraine did not have the right to reject the Emperor's declaration.

At least inside the palace, everything was going as he wanted.

However, the times flowed in a direction different from the emperor's wishes.

The peace room was opened violently and a knight came in.

He took a deep breath and told the emperor.

"Your Majesty, the mob is arbitrarily convening a parliament in the Colosseum and demanding a constitution!"

◈ Chapter 169 - 21-Birth Movement

*

There were wanted notices posted on every shabby wall.

Miscellaneous criminals such as robbers, serial killers, and vagrants were not updated on whether they had been caught or not, and it was difficult to even check whether the face was the same due to the graffiti of a neighborhood kid.

Like a pig in a slaughterhouse, the price charged to each person was a measure of how vicious the criminal was at a glance.

A low-ranking official approached the leaflet that seemed ready to fall and added several new wanted notices.

What caught people's attention were the two sheets at the end.

[Björn de Jeevitz.

Traitor.

Regardless of whether you are alive or dead.

Bounty 10,000,000 Libra.]

[Barton Wigner.

Traitor.

Regardless of whether you are alive or dead.

Bounty 2,500,000 Libra.]

A temporary command center for the revolutionary faction prepared by the Loeb Alliance.

Helga glared at the wanted notice on the table with a haggard face.

I have never seen a criminal with 10 million Libra around his neck.

It is probably the highest amount in history.

Since Bjorn is unlikely to be caught by the general public, it would be of no use other than as propaganda that he is such a vicious criminal.

The Emperor must have thought that that alone would be effective enough.

Unexpectedly, what caught his attention was Barton's portrait drawn on the wanted book.

"2.5 million libras."

Barton, who was shaking his legs while demonstrating swordsmanship during the entrance exam, has now become one of the leading criminals in the empire.

He felt like he was facing a changed emperor again.

Barton was far from a talented person.

Swordsmanship is average.

Although his intelligence was high, he did not have the ability to plan the game as a whole like Björn.

Like Ember, his ability to command the military was not exceptional.

It will be average no matter where you throw it, but to put it another way, it is not special anywhere.

Helga did not evaluate Barton as anything more than a suitable practitioner.

That is, until Amber was taken to jail.

"Citizens have been intimidated by the Red Army. There is a possibility that the lull may be prolonged."

"It is difficult to influence public opinion because the Central Newspaper is under control. Once the Estates General is concluded, the emperor will have a justification to mobilize all the troops in the capital, which may make it difficult to continue the revolution."

"Even if the noble faction is still at odds with the emperor, they cannot engage in armed struggle while all their knights are fighting in a distant, foreign land."

A revolution where wizards, merchants, and citizens mix.

It was clearly a powerful struggle that would shake the empire to its core, but like charcoal, the firepower was difficult to control.

If you try to turn it off, it may become stronger, and if you push it, it may become softer.

It was as difficult for the revolutionaries as the emperor to guess the enthusiasm.

"Local farmers are also sympathizing with the chaos in the capital. In addition to the plunder suffered by the war, there seems to be a rumor going around that the embattled emperor is moving his troops to take control of even the rural areas."

"Uprisings are taking place not only in the central rural areas but also in the southeast. In the short term, this may be a positive sign for the revolutionaries, but in the long term, it will have a negative impact on us."

Due to the ongoing unrest, all factories in the capital city were closed, and rural areas also stopped functioning.

Not only daily necessities but also food will soon dry up.

In that case, there was a possibility that the revolution could degenerate into reckless plunder.

The force may grow, but the revolutionaries will lose whatever control they have left.

In the long run, it was negative for everyone.

"I heard the story well."

Barton spoke at the center of the messy table where the Robe Alliance's power structure was connected by a red line.

As he took on the position of head, his tone of voice suddenly changed to a semi-honorable tone.

As the story progressed, Barton's eyes were drawn to the wanted book.

He becomes a criminal overnight, and it is no wonder that his head falls off at any moment due to the shadow's pursuit.

If Amber had been by his side, he would have grumbled for a long time.

The girl who had been with me for the past few years is no longer there.

She will be in prison and she will be suffering all kinds of torture.

Thinking of that made Barton's blood rush to his head.

"There are many problems, but there seems to be only one solution. In short, the problem facing the revolutionaries now is that they have no face."

Helga leaned against one wall and watched Barton.

If you ask what the basis is, Barton won't be able to answer.

However, without questioning the evidence, the people here were convinced of the problem that Barton had pointed out.

'Indeed, I understand why Bjorn called me Joker.'

Bjorn puts everyone on the board and controls the situation from there.

Ember puts pressure on the opponent by making variations on standard moves in a given environment.

Unlike those two, Barton was the type that completely relied on intuition.

"The reason the revolutionaries are unable to unite and are being swayed by enemy groups is because there is no central point to gather opinions from the vanguard. The professors of the Magic Tower have been taken to prison or placed on probation. Merchants do not have the honor to make a cause. "Because it wasn't enough, the revolutionaries were in dire straits."

If Bjorn or Amber had been there, they would have pointed out to Barton that the evidence was weak.

But I would have accepted that solution.

Even if he doesn't fully understand the problem, he comes up with an appropriate answer.

There are not enough opinions to back it up, but if you do it as is, it is roughly correct.

It may be sarcasm that he was lucky enough to hit someone with good sense, but Barton was a person with exceptionally good sense.

'He had the most terrifying talent.'

What Bjorn lacked was improvisation and sense.

If he starts to deviate from the board, his plan loses its power.

Like losing the nanny in Stemwind.

Amber would help only in that area, but outside of the battlefield, her help was halved.

In comparison, Barton was close to an all-rounder.

It doesn't matter if he can't make the game.

Even if you can't read the sea breeze, if you can tell by feel where the waves will hit, your ship won't capsize.

Helga thought that perhaps he was better suited to be a leader than Bjorn.

'Is the reason why I haven't been able to shine so far because I was too discouraged?'

If you're around prominent people, you can't help but be psychologically driven.

This would have been especially negative for people who rely on intuition.

The reason he suddenly showed off his natural abilities was probably because he had something he desperately wanted to achieve.

Helga knew what it was without even having to think about it.

"So, from now on, I will be at the forefront. Since I am making a name for myself as a witty knight, it will be effective in uniting the citizens."

Barton said as if making a declaration.

The leadership of the revolutionary faction, including the Rove Coalition, could not hide their embarrassment.

"But if you do that and get arrested or even assassinated, the revolutionary group itself could be shaken!"

"How can we make a revolution by pointing fingers from a safe place? How can those who dream of a new world trust us and risk their lives?"

The young nobleman who was protesting Barton's point fell silent.

It's definitely not a rational choice.

But you think there is some truth in it.

Helga looked beyond it.

Barton's persistence in trying to save Amber as quickly as possible.

I'm willing to take any risk for that.

He was concentrating all his capabilities and rushing towards one goal.

Due to that psychology, Barton was clearly expressing his talent that he did not know about himself.

"Tomorrow, at the same time as the Estates General opens, we will also hold a council meeting. So that the decisions made at the Estates General are not misunderstood as the will of the people."

Slowly, Barton explained his plans for the day.

What kind of speech will be given at the Colosseum, what will happen after, and what the revolutionaries should do then.

At this time, when the audience was fully focused, Barton was not even interested in what he was talking about.

What was repeating in his head like a return ticket were the words Amber said on the day of the prom.

So now I will entrust my life to you. Barton, never fail. My life is not that cheap.

A ballroom filled with stars.

From the time she drank and danced, she must have already decided.

We decided to escape while preserving the revolutionary faction intact.

He must have been thinking of sacrificing himself for that.

Barton just wanted to ask a question.

She grabbed her shoulders and shook her like usual.

Why on earth did I do such a foolish thing?

If you do something like that, what on earth will happen to the rest of us?

He risked everything just for that.

When he opened his closed eyes, Barton was standing in the center of the Colosseum.

Numerous eyes blinked as they looked at him.

They all waited for him to open his mouth.

Everyone gathered here knew.

That this moment becomes an inflection point in history.

A knight of wit set out to confront the emperor.

Burning heat and clenched fists.

Shiny pupils.

High expectations and aspirations gathered towards him.

Barton had no intention of satisfying them.

The future of the empire and the new wave that will come after this.

To him, it's just a tool to save a woman.

"Citizens, listen to my voice. I, Barton Wigner, stand here to appeal to you!"

◈ Chapter 170 - 21-Birth Movement

The Colosseum, which could accommodate tens of thousands of people, was too large.

The audience seats were empty, and the few revolutionary figures and passionate citizens standing in the stadium seemed like a handful.

Barton looked around the stadium for a moment.

After entering Octantium, countless gladiators must have fought here for hundreds of years.

Most would have been turned into eye candy for the audience and lost their lives, but some might have gained freedom at the end of the fight.

Barton wanted to be that lucky gladiator.

Even with Helga's protection, standing in a place like this would be suicidal.

It wouldn't have been surprising if he was immediately assassinated by an undercover officer.

Barton swallowed dryly.

At this moment, the reason he is shaking his hands is because he is afraid of death.

Because he was afraid of failure more than anything else.

So he is afraid that he will not be able to save the person he wants to save.

Clenching his jaw so hard that his molars were grinding, Barton looked down at his seat.

I will incite you from now on.

Let me have sweet dreams and die in vain at the hands of the empire's spear.

So blame me.

Because of my wit, I took away what was most precious to you.

Taking a deep breath, Barton opened his mouth.

*

A ghost is wandering Octantium.

The ghost called democracy.

All the nobles on the continent, the Emperor, the Pope, the Knights of the Holy Cross, and the Dark Lord joined forces to hunt down this ghost.

Is there a young person who has not been accused of being a revolutionary by conservatives over the past few months?

Also, is there an opposing force that does not return the stigma of being accused of being a revolutionary not only to its reactionary enemies but also to other more progressive forces?

So, is there anyone who is not oppressed by them?

You, the true owners, foundation, and everything of this country.

Do you know?

There are three identities in this world.

Those who pray, those who fight, and those who work.

In the distant era of mythology, when the Demon King arrived on this continent and harvested life, humanity was divided into these three branches.

Those who bow their heads to God are kings and priests.

Those fighting ahead are nobles.

So, did we, the workers, really only plow the fields at that time?

No!

The king and nobles also shouted at us.

We must fight the devil for humanity.

With those words, we fought the bitter cold with iron skewers. Like a knight.

Our ancestors probably prayed to God as they froze to death standing in the frozen ground. Just like the king.

Our ancestors died countless times to protect humanity.

Their number was greater than that of all kings in history.

Blood was shed on the front lines more than the nobility.

He courageously drove out the devil by the side of the hero, leaving no name behind.

However, despite our military expertise, we were neither able to pray nor fight.

The colored glass in the church belonged only to the king and the clergy, and it was the nobles who held the force.

We are still poor, plowing the fields of nobles and being whipped by managers.

I didn't want to escape their eyes, so I brought a pretty village girl and offered it to them.

We stooped low, unable to even touch the crops we had grown with our own hands.

Even those who came to the capital because they hated it couldn't even complain to the nobles if their arm was cut off by a machine while working too hard.

The history of the past thousand years has been like this.

When the Rodal tribe came down from Homeland and fought the Aryan tribe.

Today, even during the war with the Kingdom of Junta.

Our rulers forced us to make sacrifices.

Dedicate yourself to humanity.

So our three estates sacrificed everything for humanity.

But what did we receive in return?

The territory expanded by the war belonged to the emperor, and we who lost limbs in battle still clung to their land and farmed.

Eighty percent of the factories in the capital are occupied by nobles.

Bread and a few coins were thrown as if it were a gift.

All they gave us was a cheap virgin that couldn't even fit a fedora.

We were grateful even for that. We bowed our heads and expressed our gratitude.

That's it!

If anyone complains, cut out his tongue.

If we get together and open our eyes, we will hang ourselves for treason!

And now they are censoring even our thoughts, saying they are impure.

Didn't they treat us like pigs waiting to be slaughtered in a pen?

That was our three estates.

How did this happen?

Is it because the Lord does not listen to our prayers?

Is it because we can't put mana on the scythe?

We, the working people, why did the 3rd estate follow the 1st and 2nd estates?

The three estates, the others who will disappear nameless in the back of history.

The truth is this:

To the emperor and nobles, we are not human beings.

We are just meat shields that protect them in times of danger, and livestock that provide food.

Who would give up their home to an animal?

In this way, we were usurped of our legitimate rights that were temporarily handed over to them for everyone's sake.

But now we know.

That the power they have was not given to them by God.

The truth that everything originated from us, the Third Estate.

What are the three estates?

It's us.

He is a farmer, a worker, a warrior, an administrator, a pillar of civilization, and in other words, a master of an empire.

Without the three estates, nothing can exist, and without the other estates, everything would go infinitely well.

Therefore, the three estates are everything.

I, Barton Wigner, convened this meeting on behalf of the three estates.

And as its head, I solemnly declare:

May we reclaim our rights from those false usurpers.

To that end, I will resist forever.

Rule based on law!

An era where we can think and discuss freely!

A system where dreams can be achieved through ability, not bloodline!

For that, our three estates will fight!

Three Estates, stand up!

Masters of the empire, we are the only ones who can change this diseased empire!

Third Estate, raise your voice!

Not even the emperor dares judge us!

Third Estate, take up arms!

Let the usurpers tremble before the revolution!

All we have to lose by revolution are our chains, and all we have to gain is the world!

*

There is no reason for ash to fall.

A few days ago, the wind was strong and volcanic ash flew over the Gray Mountains and ended up in the capital.

Is there any reason for the products of nature?

However, a leaflet mixed with ashes and flying around the capital clearly had a certain purpose.

The flyer had the Central Newspaper mark on it.

The newspaper company must have been taken over by the Knights of the Holy Cross, so there was no question about how they filmed it.

Duke von Loren understood the power of the Loeb Alliance better than anyone else.

"⋯⋯You're crazy."

All I could say was that I was out of my mind.

The text on the leaflet was probably a speech given by Barton Wigner at the Coliseum.

Before being arrested by the Knights of the Holy Cross, the National Assembly must have held various ceremonies, including the Declaration of Human Rights, but it was probably the speech that was ultimately etched in the public's memory.

"These leaflets were distributed throughout the capital?"

"Yes, it looks like the Robe Alliance took advantage of the confusion and spread magic everywhere."

Just a piece of paper.

It's an unsightly thing that rolls around on the ground and has dirt all over it.

However, Duke von Lorraine could not have guessed the impact it would have.

The lines are thick and there is no detail.

Therefore, it was perfect for inciting the people.

"A witty knight has appeared, and his speech is a masterpiece worthy of this name. The revolution will intensify."

The driver who brought the leaflet added his personal opinion.

That opinion was also overly emotionless.

His speech had too much impact to be disparaged as nothing more than a prestigious speech.

"Lord Wigner split the empire in half."

The emperor stripped Duke von Lorraine of his chancellorship in the Estates General.

Strictly speaking, it was not a prime minister, but the 'king's right hand', but it was not that important.

The key point is that the news reached the public's ears along with this leaflet.

Now that the head of the aristocratic faction was stripped of his position and Bjern was on the run, the knight of wit appeared at the forefront and established a council before being arrested by the Knights of the Holy Cross.

The people of the empire will probably think that the emperor has finally covered his ears.

There was no middle ground going forward.

The fate of the empire will eventually reach one of the two poles.

Citizens who heard Barton's speech will now arm themselves.

To overthrow the oppression of the empire, everyone will grab a kitchen knife or at least a frying pan and take to the streets.

Wizards will no longer be easily arrested.

Because Barton vented their anger at the loss of a student.

From now on, this was a siege called revolution.

A fight between the SS guarding the palace and the citizens.

There will be a terrible civil war, where magic and sword energy will run rampant.

"Get ready. We have to join too."

Externally, the aristocratic faction and the revolutionary faction do not get along well.

However, from the moment he lost Ambu and made the vice-commander of the Knights of the Holy Cross his enemy, Duke von Lorraine had to do as Bjern wanted.

There was no other way to save his life.

Now was that moment.

"Where do you want to go?"

"To Bettieux Prison."

Duke von Lorraine pinpointed where the first battlefield would be.

◈ Chapter 171 - 21-Birth Movement

*

Flyers flew wherever the wind blew.

Even at the ticket booth where people lined up to board the train.

Even in a brothel crowded with poor people.

In any busy street lined with horse-drawn carriages.

At least to the old wooden house on the grassy ridge beyond the castle wall.

Barton's speech was scattered like leaves on the streets, and everyone who could read saw it.

If you are an illiterate person, you may have to borrow someone's voice to hear it.

Björn's fourth book.

Barton's speech, which was copied with several tips, immediately caused a stir.

"Third Estate! Take up arms! We must be everything!"

"Let us reclaim our rights that were taken away by the false usurper!"

There are waves.

Countless crowds and the anger they poured out hit the capital like a wave.

It was the march of those without a share.

The poor common people who have always existed as others throughout history.

The fill that has been accumulated over thousands of years.

The resonance of the marches that walked in step is threatening to collapse the once strong empire.

The first condensation of that power was in a prison on the outskirts of the capital.

*

A salty smell mixed in the air.

It looks like we've already reached the coast.

Barton just rattled around in his carriage, his hands and feet bound.

"You're lucky you weren't summarily judged."

A voice was heard from under the carriage, from a place where no one was around.

A tone of mockery.

Barton read the relief contained therein.

"Because he had value to his name, he would have been brought to trial and executed no matter what."

Helga didn't bother to point out his anti-respect towards her.

The first reason was that, on the surface, he was not a member of the Human Lighthouse.

The second thing is to understand that you are not paying attention to your tone of voice because you are concentrating on other things.

That was the third time that I thought it was batten-like.

Whatever his thoughts, Barton continued as if organizing his thoughts.

"What's surprising is that there were no assassination attempts by Ambu. I think there might be something else going on."

"Didn't you just say you would prioritize proper execution?"

"That applies to me. It doesn't matter to the revolutionary elements who were there. If I were the head of the secretariat, I would have killed them one by one and tried to force the assembly to be dissolved."

The reason the revolutionaries established a parliament in the Colosseum was to weaken the justification that the Estates General represented all classes.

Considering the political purpose, he could have easily dissatisfied the message by making the place a mess.

However, the shadow only hovered around the inside of the Colosseum where the Congress was held and did not raise a weapon.

"If it were the emperor, it might be so. However, the shadow is acting under the orders of the Great Devil. It is likely to instigate human conflict further according to their purpose."

"Maybe. But something bothers me."

"If that's the only thing that bothers you in this situation, you'll be hung soon."

The carriage carrying key revolutionary figures is headed to Bettieu Prison.

Either a political prisoner who rebelled against the emperor, or a vicious criminal worthy of making a name for himself in the empire.

The carriage sped without hesitation toward the prison from which it was said that even if one survived, one would not be able to get out alive.

"If you are dragged into prison, you will definitely die."

"You didn't fully explain what happens next."

"I didn't tell you what if that didn't happen."

"That won't happen."

Barton's affirmation.

Although she knew him as a child with good sense, Helga was still uneasy.

Because the evidence is too weak.

"It may not be enough to take down the escort. Rather, the Human Lighthouse..."

The transport escorts were the Red Hooded Knights of the Holy Cross.

It was an imperial bodyguard comprised entirely of sword experts.

As the elite, their vigilance was tight, and they would not hesitate to draw their swords to uphold the emperor's orders.

Before he could finish speaking, Barton decisively cut him off.

"Impossible. The Human Lighthouse must be completely outsiders until the critical moment arrives. That is why you must never intervene."

"And if you miss the timing, there's no going back."

"That won't happen, Lord Sentle. You can't even see it. This sight."

Helga saw a knight guarding the area, hiding in the darkness.

Even though Helga is considered the best in the empire when it comes to stealth skills, the knights around her are also elite sword experts.

Originally, at such a close distance, they should have at least sensed a sense of heterogeneity.

But instead of noticing Helga, they were distracted by something else and were breaking into a cold sweat.

Helga also saw the scenery they faced.

Citizens holding sticks and skewers were coming from every corner of the carriage.

When we first met at the corner of the road, they just looked at the carriage with bloodshot eyes.

As they turned the second corner, they pointed at the carriage and shouted something.

By the third time, they moved as if they were going to attack the carriage at any moment.

"Stand back! If you don't, I'll cut you down!"

The fourth street facing right in front of Bettieu Prison.

The road was already blocked by angry people.

The Knights of the Holy Cross who were in charge of transportation were isolated.

"Release the knight of wit! You bastards of the emperor!"

"The revolutionaries are innocent! It's because of you parasites that the country is like this!"

The Knight of the Holy Cross must have seen it.

The citizens who lived together in the capital viewed them as enemies.

Since they had drawn their swords, they had no choice.

"You traitors! Kill them all!"

"Open the way!"

The knight wrapped mana around his sword.

It means that anyone who stands in the way will be killed.

As he said, the knight began slaughtering the empire with the sword he had trained to protect it.

-Clap!

Like harvesting wheat with a sickle.

A drunken citizen died without even being able to properly resist.

My throat was cut so I couldn't even scream.

Such corpses quickly filled the streets.

"Do you not know why you have been trampled until now? It is because you are weak!"

"No matter how many we increase, you bastards cannot kill us!"

The Knight of the Holy Cross shouted to break morale.

As he said, the people blocking the streets were at best ordinary people.

Just as ants cannot kill humans, they cannot stop knights unless they can control mana.

No matter how advanced your speculation is, your will will be broken if a person dies helplessly right in front of you.

The more the Knights of the Holy Cross swung their swords, the more the citizens began to hesitate.

At that time, the Knight of the Holy Cross must have felt his body becoming as heavy as wet cotton.

The cause was a crowd approaching from afar.

They were dressed in robes and slowly waved their wands.

Then, the magic that had been ravaging the empire's enemies poured towards the emperor's shield.

"It's a wizard! A wizard has joined!"

"Push in! Let's save the revolutionaries!"

The ember that was thought to be extinguished for a moment was revived.

The one who retreated from the heat was the Knight of the Holy Cross.

If you are a sword expert, you can kill hundreds of ordinary people.

It is not difficult to cut down those who are not properly armed and cannot handle mana.

But what if you kill hundreds of people like that?

What will happen to the thousands behind them?

They did not have the power to kill all the people in the capital.

That hesitation was their defeat.

"The people! Indeed, we are weak! That's why we lived as if we were trampled when trampled on! When they asked, we gave, and when they took away, we were taken away! That was how servile we were!"

Barton stood up from the carriage and shouted.

Suddenly, his bonds were released and he was free, holding a sword in his hand.

"But does their strength give them the right to ravage us? Does our weakness give them the reason we cannot fight!"

They don't know who Barton is.

There is a lot of talk about investigating him as a witty knight and the president of Central Newspaper, but he has never been seen in person.

Barton turned to face them.

And he showed that the nickname was not fake.

"We may be trampled, but we will not bow to them again! We will fight to regain the rights they took away! The people! You who are nothing! You who are everything! Let us show them who is the true owner of the empire! "

He jumped out of the carriage and crossed swords with the Knight of the Holy Cross.

That was the fuse.

"Waaaaah!"

The waves crash.

Towards a solid rock wall.

Breaking things look like waves.

However, it was always the rock walls that left marks as the waves hit.

If you cut one down, two will rush at you.

If you cut two, you get four.

If you cut four, you get sixteen.

Only a few knights could not block the attack mixed with magic.

"Kill the traitor to the country!"

When the number of corpses exceeded hundreds, one knight died.

As dozens piled up again, another knight was stepped on by the angry people.

After that, the Emperor's shield fell like dominoes.

The person who killed the last knight was Barton Wigner.

He shouted, holding up the severed head.

"People! There's her Ember Cutter in her prison! Let's save her!"

The people's army led by him marched toward the Bétille prison.

Demanding their lost share.

It was a day in the capital city with ash falling lightly, which will be recorded in history as the 'Bettieux Prison Attack Incident'.

◈ Chapter 172 - 21-Birth Movement

*

14 shots.

Wow, what were you counting?

Amber, who was dozing off in the shade of a large tree on top of a hill in the pasture, suddenly came to her senses.

The weather in the Southeast was at its peak and it was a breathtaking day, as if the sun was about to cook everything.

"Sister! Sister! You're hiding here again!"

It was her younger sister who got off her horse and came running like a rabbit from afar.

Her ash-blonde hair, inherited from her mother, was dying in the hot sunlight.

Amber climbed up the tree as usual and thought about playing hide and seek, but she was so tired that all she could do was open her eyes that kept closing.

"Dad says it's going to rain soon so put her horses in the stable!"

"Is it this clear?"

"My leg feels sore! Quick! Quick!"

Her younger brother waved her hand from the bottom of the hill, as if it was too much of a hassle to come up.

After looking at the scene for a while, Amber whistled.

One of her horses, which was grazing near her, came up to her and got in her face.

Her strong snort blew against my cheek.

As she sat down further, it was obvious that he was going to play with her hair with her lips, so she barely got up.

Her sister called out to Ember, who sat in her stirrups and slowly made her way down the hill.

"It's a bet to see who gets to the fence faster!"

"What will you do if I win?"

"I'll pretend you didn't see the wooden sword hidden under the bed!"

When did you find that again?

After learning that she was blessed by Mana, Ember's parents wanted her to become a wizard.

However, Amber was unable to make her parents' dream come true because she had already learned swordsmanship over her shoulder and formed her dantian at a time when she did not even know what her dantian was.

No matter how much she explained, her parents didn't understand.

Rather, her explanation had a side effect that now prevented her from swinging the sword itself.

'That's because it doesn't cost a penny or two for a commoner to become a knight.'

Amber understood her parents.

Unlike wizards, who were provided with everything from tuition to dignity maintenance by the empire, knights had to be noticed by nobles to become a knight.

Unless you go to a remote area in the north and take the test to join the Human Lighthouse Corps, it is no different from winning a star in the sky for a commoner.

Even the family that ran the stable could not afford to pay all the costs.

If her parents find out that she has a wooden sword hidden under her bed, her house will be noisy for a while.

Amber sighed and placed her horse next to her.

"Ha, okay. Okay. So what do you want when you get here?"

"Well...? Hey!"

Before Amber could finish her preparations, her sister struck first.

Amber stared blankly at her back and hurriedly spurred her on.

Haha! You'll let me know if I win?"

"What?"

"Where is Bjorn?"

At that moment, her sister's voice and the voice of an unfamiliar man were heard overlapping each other.

14 shots.

The sound of fine sand rolling on the waves hit my eardrums.

On the shores of Abamis, Ember regained her consciousness.

Yes, she was enjoying the short break that came with clearing out the Northern Alliance and returning to the operational staff of humanity and other great forces.

As expected from a famous tourist destination, the sea and sky of Abamis were clear.

So much so that the border of the horizon where the two meet is vague.

Amber stretched out on her long-awaited break.

She put her armor and sword down on the sandy beach for a moment and dipped her feet in the waves.

The sea touched my ankles, creating white spray.

"It looks like you're getting tired."

Her Leuktra Plains giant slalom is a shape that pushed her to the limit.

Whether she knew it or not, Amber's eyes kept closing as the tired sunlight hit her skin.

"It's rewarding to have been dragged along."

The beautiful scenery of Abamis also becomes familiar once you get used to it.

For a day or two, I am amazed by the scenery I see when I open my eyes in the morning, but when it becomes a daily routine, it becomes dull.

Amber understood Barton's grumbling.

There was no need to walk for a long time to the seaside that I had always seen, which was clearly visible from her office.

Still, it felt unfair to just work at Abamis, so Amber dragged him here while she still had time.

In the end, Barton seemed to be satisfied in his own way.

"Isn't that right? Looking down from the window is different from actually facing it."

"That much I know. It was just annoying."

Barton grumbled, but spread his arms and enjoyed the sea breeze.

Amber splashed towards him with her feet.

"Ouch, it's cold! What are you doing?"

"I've already come down, so wouldn't you be sad if I went up like this? If I came to the sea, I'd have to get wet and have to go back."

Looking at Barton, who was drenched in seawater and knitting his eyebrows together, Amber pointed and laughed.

"⋯⋯Okay, that's how it comes out, right?"

He, shaking, moved towards Amber.

It seemed like the plan was to catch it and throw it into the sea.

Anyway, I'm a sword user.

It wasn't enough for her to catch the sword expert.

She had to fall short.

"Huh?"

Unlike Esang, her body was unusually heavy.

With Barton holding her by the back of her neck, she lowered her head into the sea.

No matter how hard she struggled, Barton wouldn't get her out of the water.

When I reached the point where my lungs were filled with seawater, I heard Barton's voice, along with that of a stranger, in my ears.

"Tell me. Where is Bjorn?"

14 shots.

When her dark consciousness returned, she counted the numbers.

She had no idea what the number was or why she was counting it.

She had been feeling hazy and had vague memories from earlier.

While holding her head, Barton said:

"So I told you to drink in moderation."

"Alcohol?"

"Yes! Alcohol! That wine piled up next to you!"

When she looked next to her through her blurry eyes, she saw a pile of empty bottles there.

That's right, Barton was taking care of me for Coming of Age Day.

I took him with me to a restaurant where the maids were talking.

And what did he say?

'At the clothing store... When asked if he often picked out women's clothes... That's not true... After hearing the answer... I was relieved... Why is that so... Yo. This.'

As Amber was reviewing what had just happened, she realized she had made a mistake.

It certainly came out of Amber's mouth, but she wanted to rip Barton's brains out and erase her memories if she could.

What on earth was I thinking when I said that!

Her face was burning and Amber could not raise her head.

"If I said anything, it was drunken nonsense. Don't take it seriously."

"Your condition is clearly visible, but who would take it seriously?"

Naturally virtuous attitude.

That was rather annoying.

So much so that I get angry without even realizing it.

"Barton, do you think I look like a woman? That attitude kind of pisses me off."

"Should I see her as a woman?"

"⋯⋯I made a mistake."

Not only did I make a mistake when I was drunk, but now I committed a stupid thing due to my emotions.

Isn't this no different from a girl who begs to look after me?

I don't even like him, so what kind of disgrace is this?

He doesn't even like it?

The words Amber thought to herself were slightly annoying.

Then why am I so upset?

Amber was confused by emotions that she could not understand.

Meanwhile, the waiter brought dessert to finish the meal.

When I opened the cover, there was a small piece of cake inside.

The number '14' is decorated with whipped cream.

Amber looked at the number for a long time.

14 shots, 14 shots, 14 shots.

What on earth is this number that keeps ringing in my head?

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't figure it out, so Amber asked Barton, who was sitting across from her.

"What on earth does 14 shots mean?"

"Fourteen shots? What do you mean? Are you sober yet?"

"Oh, no."

From Barton's point of view, that sounds like a bitch.

Still, Amber felt like she was going crazy with curiosity.

There is no doubt that it is an important number, but what on earth does it mean?

Barton asked Amber this time.

"I also have a question."

"What is it again?"

"Where did Viern go?!"

An unfamiliar man appeared through Barton's face.

Amber definitely knew that man.

As I looked at the disgusting face, my blurred consciousness returned.

14 shots.

It was Baekje's number pinned to his thigh.

What I ruminate on so much is as a safety measure to ensure that I never answer what he wants even if my consciousness fades.

Judging from the fact that the interrogator was still fuming, it seemed like he hadn't made any mistakes.

"Tell me Bjorn's location and I'll make it easier for you."

"⋯⋯."

My throat feels like it's burning.

Even when I tried to swallow, my uvula did not move, possibly due to a muscle problem.

It's not just the uvula.

Even though I gave a signal to raise my head, my gaze was still focused on the ground.

Through the barely audible noise, Amber knew that the civil servant was looking for a syringe to inject the 15th dose of drugs.

"As expected, the knight is different. An ordinary person would have already died, but he maintains his sanity."

A sharp needle touches my thigh.

A whitish liquid sloshed around inside the container.

"Hold on for as long as you can. It doesn't matter. There's a lot of time and a lot of confession left. What are you looking forward to? I wonder how long you can endure."

With his thick, hairy hands the interrogator pushed the pushing pole.

At that time, a loud noise was heard outside.

"Well, what's going on!"

The person who responded to the sound was the Human Lighthouse Knight who was monitoring the situation under Eileen's orders.

The technician went out of the basement to assess the situation.

However, the interrogator seemed completely uninterested in what was going on outside.

He laughed cheerfully, as if he had been waiting for this situation.

"Hehe,haha! The annoying surveillance is finally gone! Now I can treat you the way I like!"

The interrogator seemed no longer interested and threw his syringe on the ground.

Humming to himself, he picked Amber up and placed her on a chair designed to spread her legs.

"Do you know how painful it was just to look at that smooth face? My lower body was burning?"

Amber's eyes moved up to the chair, which was designed to lie down.

Her interrogator waved an instrument at her ostentatiously.

"This is a tool called a speculum. It is used to expand the vagina. It is said to have been designed for examination, but of course I will use it for other purposes according to my job."

After rummaging around on the shelf where the torture equipment was placed, he took out a bottle as if he had found it.

Cockroaches and centipedes were stomping around inside, making strange noises.

No matter how drugged you were, it wasn't hard to guess what the interrogator was going to do.

"There is no better way to torture a strong woman like you. Please don't open your mouth until the end. Shouldn't I enjoy it too?"

The few clothes left were torn by violent hands.

Amber squeezed her eyes shut.

She was determined to save all of the revolutionary faction.

Still, I couldn't help but feel regret.

What is Bjern doing?

If I lose the fight against the Great Devil, I will resent it even after I die.

Barton must be doing well.

Strangely, I especially wanted to see his face.

"Ember! Ember Cutter! Are you here?!"

The voice that echoed in the basement along with the heavy drinking at that time was clearly Barton's.

◈ Chapter 173 - 21-Birth Movement