Do Your Own Revolution-Chapter 201

< Final Chapter-015. >

“So, it has come to this.”

When I opened my eyes, the situation before me was clear.

Me, having regained my senses, holding a gun.

And before its barrel, Irene with a bitter smile.

The final moment where everything would end with just a pull of the trigger.

“You should have killed me while I was lost in the illusion. Then you, not I, would have been the victor.”

“Eugene couldn’t shoot me earlier either. We’re the same in that regard.”

Saying that, Irene maintained her smile as she spoke.

“This was all I could do.”

“……”

“A way to make Eugene happy without suppressing my queenly instincts. After five years of endless contemplation, the fake world I just showed you was the answer I came up with.”

Hearing those words, I looked at Irene’s tentacles connected to my body.

Following the monster’s voice to summon an army of destruction to devastate the surface, and merging with me who came to capture her, trapping me in an imaginary world.

And living there together for eternity.

That was Irene’s ultimate plan.

“But I failed.”

“……”

“I couldn’t overcome Eugene’s will, the imaginary world I worked so hard to create was easily shattered, and I even lost control of the body.”

Irene was right.

My body, having completely regained control.

And this strange sensation I felt simultaneously.

I knew instinctively.

That now I could control the monsters, open and close the rifts, and separate this body connected to Irene.

The imaginary world.

The moment I escaped from there, I had taken control of all these monsters.

Boom—!

Meanwhile, the ground beneath our feet shook violently.

The epicenter was underground in the city center.

An explosion spell had gone off where the giant flower stood.

“If Eugene had said he would stay there… if he had said he was happy… There wouldn’t have been any problems.”

Saying that, Irene slowly reached out toward me.

“A stranger who came from an unfamiliar place. Even if we are just characters from a made-up story to you.”

Having said that, Irene slowly lowered her hand that had touched my face.

“You chose to love those people.”

You don’t want to let go of the bonds you’ve made here.

Saying that, Irene grabbed the gun barrel pointed at her face and moved it to the center of her chest.

“This is where the Monster Queen’s Factor is located.”

At the end of the barrel was Irene’s body.

No monster-like carapace.

No protective barrier made of magical power.

Just the fragile body of a young girl.

“If you destroy this, the rifts will close, and the monsters who lost their queen will turn into wild beasts and self-destruct.”

There was no need to imbue it with magical power.

One shot from a self-defense pistol.

With just that, I could eliminate the monster army that would cover the entire continent.

I could end the long-running battle with the monsters.

However.

“……”

I turned my gaze to look at Irene’s brightly smiling face.

‘Shoot Irene with my own hands.’

Fundamentally different from humans.

Yet I had carelessly left Irene alone as she continued to suppress herself.

I had optimistically focused only on what was right in front of me, and that ultimately drove her to the extreme.

In other words, this chaos was no different than something I had brought upon myself.

“Don’t hesitate. Eugene.”

Perhaps she noticed my thoughts.

Looking at the gun barrel against her chest, Irene spoke.

“The evil dragon who took away the princess must die by the prince’s hand.”

“……”

“And then the prince returns with the princess, and they live happily ever after.”

Irene’s hand grasped my hand holding the gun.

“Protect the people you love, and live together with them.”

“……”

“Become a hero, Eugene.”

Strength entered my hand holding the gun.

Hero.

The moment I heard those words, it felt like something clouding my mind cleared away.

To everyone who told me to become a hero who saved the world, I had always replied without exception:

“No.”

Irene tried to become completely one with me.

Whether that was born from possessiveness or not doesn’t matter.

What matters is what I can do now.

And since falling into this world, there has been an absolute proposition in my heart.

I will not become a slave.

I will not become a tool.

“I will not become a hero.”

And this is my choice to end all of this.

“?!”

Grabbing Irene’s surprised shoulders, I pressed my lips against hers.

Contact made by my own will.

Beyond Irene’s bewildered psyche, I focused my consciousness on the monster factor residing in her core.

Countless memories.

Pain experienced in old times.

Obsession.

After continuing to dig through her mind past all of that…

………

I reached an alien existence deeply seated in Irene’s mind.

A massive will.

A vast being formed from thousands, tens of thousands, millions of consciousnesses.

The monsters’ collective consciousness dwelling in her factor.

– Guide us.

– To that place.

– To the Promised Land.

When the alien presence appeared, the monsters’ will directed at Irene flowed into me.

A will so strong that just briefly facing it felt like my consciousness would fly away.

‘No wonder the kid nearly went crazy, enduring something like this for over 5 years.’

While thinking that, I gradually endured it and spoke to the massive monster will.

“Hey, monsters.”

Hearing that voice, as if recognizing my existence, the flood of information pouring into my mind temporarily stopped.

The emotions I felt were shyness, alienation, wariness, and fear.

A perfect state for negotiation.

“Now that I’m completely merged with Irene, I can connect my consciousness to your factor and communicate like this.”

Whether to kill or spare your queen.

I’m now in a position to choose.

“Therefore, I’ll give you all a choice.”

As I mentioned the word choice, I could feel the massive consciousness turning its attention to my words.

“Either get annihilated as an entire species here by my hand.”

Emotions of fear and hostility.

“Or accept the deal I’m proposing.”

And following that, a will full of pure curiosity.

After what felt like a long time…

– What do you desire?

Finally, the monsters’ collective consciousness responded to my words.

If we’ve come this far, we’re halfway there.

I answered immediately.

“100 years of suspended activity.”

– You want us to wait? For what?

“Until I finish everything I need to do in this world.”

– And after that?

“In place of Irene, I’ll help you find your ‘Promised Land.'”

After a brief exchange, the voice paused once again.

– You would take on the role of queen?

“It doesn’t seem impossible.”

Through awakening and accepting the primal imprint, my body had become inhuman.

An alien existence mostly composed of magical power.

I had become closer to a monster than a human.

Additionally, now that I’m merged with Irene, I essentially have the Queen’s Factor as well.

This very conversation was proof enough of that.

– You’re saying we should accept you as king and search for new land?

“Or die here as a species.”

At my blunt words, the massive will hesitated momentarily.

Even for the will of the monster species, I held the knife right now.

Though I called it a choice, it was essentially a threat.

I am the victor of this war.

All rights ultimately lie in my hands.

……

After hearing my words, the collective consciousness was silent for a while.

Perhaps they were discussing among themselves.

– For the survival of our species, we understand this is an offer we cannot refuse.

Shortly after.

– However, there is one thing we would like you to answer.

“Speak.”

The monster will that cautiously opened its mouth asked me:

– The reason we invaded this world was because it had the highest possibility.

“That’s right.”

You won after all in the original history.

– But if we follow your proposal, we must depart for unknown worlds we’ve never been to.

Worlds where we don’t know what exists or what beings we’ll encounter.

Like when we first opened the rifts, countless beings called heroes will stand in our way.

– Is it possible to guide us past them?

Oh geez.

Once they started talking, numerous questions flooded into my mind simultaneously.

Different tones, different voices, different emotions.

This collective consciousness was more troublesome than I had thought.

However.

“It’s possible.”

I answered their questions without hesitation.

“I stopped the revolution, subdued the magic nobles, destroyed the republic, and unified the continent.”

“I defeated your queen, hold your right to life and death, and am making you an offer you can’t refuse.”

Well, technically Irene handed this to me on a silver platter.

“So think about it with those supposedly brilliant heads of yours.”

……

“Among all the humans you’ve met in this world, has anyone cornered you as thoroughly as I have?”

Silence.

After a brief silence, the monster collective consciousness began expressing agreement one by one.

– The best method for species evolution is.

– To imitate stronger, superior species.

– To become like them, to become the same as them.

If the one who defeated us leads us as king.

Our species can leave this land and find a new Promised Land.

It is fitting.

We agree.

We also agree.

There were some voices expressing worry and concern, but not many.

A strange sense of relief at escaping the crisis of death.

And the hope and anticipation that followed filled the monsters’ collective consciousness.

But at that moment.

“No-!”

With a scream-like voice, my consciousness returned to reality once again.

“No, no, no! Absolutely not-!”

The one who screamed was Irene.

She was clutching my body with a desperate expression as she shouted.

“Maintaining the fusion and trying to keep me alive, do you know what you’re trying to do?”

“……”

“Eugene, you’ll become a monster like me! With a body that can never die, you’ll have to wander countless worlds for eternity!”

I know very well.

The Promised Land.

The task of finding a world where monsters can live beyond the rifts.

I didn’t know how long it would take or how many battles we would have to go through.

“That’s why I was trying to die! I would have been happy to die by Eugene’s hands…! That’s why I…!”

“Yes. It’s a terrible thing.”

Therefore

“I’ll go with you.”

With a faint smile, I embraced Irene’s small body.

“So don’t talk about dying for my sake, or having to die.”

It’s actually a bit embarrassing to say out loud.

After thinking that and staying still for a while, Irene, who had buried her face in my arms, spoke in a tiny voice.

“Eugene, you’re really selfish.”

“Aren’t I?”

What I requested from the monsters was 100 years.

Time to watch over my people as they fade away.

Irene, Mari, this world.

A selfish decision made because I didn’t want to let go of anything I held in my hands.

“It will be a long time… but please wait just a little longer.”

Saying that, I stroked Irene’s head and spoke.

“I will definitely keep my promises.”

Between Irene and I who had become one, countless promises we had made before passed between us.

“…okay.”

I’ll get you out of that dark basement.

I’ll let you eat lots of delicious things and see beautiful sights often.

I’ll protect you from those who target you.

I’ll stay with you forever.

I could promise anything.

In this life, Irene was the first being whose future I changed.

If I hadn’t found Irene in that basement.

If she hadn’t taken my hand, my life would have ended before it even began.

The queen and companion merged, forming a covenant.

The spark that twisted fate will become the monster king and set out to find the Promised Land.

We can become a powerful species, beyond what we are now.

It shall be so.

It is so.

Truly it is so.

With strangely elevated voices, the monsters’ will began falling into deep sleep one by one.

The countless chaotic wills disappeared and.

The moment Irene in my arms vanished like a shadow.

“Huh…?”

“What… is this…?”

The monsters who had been in the midst of battle began collapsing.

The assault-type specimen that had been charging at the troops.

The large monster that had been withstanding firepower with its huge body.

The monster army being created from the blooming flower and its petals.

Like puppets with cut strings, they collapsed where they stood and didn’t move.

And finally-

Rumble—!

The massive hole that had appeared in the sky was disappearing.

– …Hey, Guille. Can you hear me?

Yes. All monsters distributed throughout Westraine have ceased activity. The rift has also disappeared.

Through the magical power communication, his friends’ voices flowed out.

Guille, who had come out to assess the situation, slowly opened his mouth with a sigh of relief.

“This war is our victory.”

With that brief declaration, the cheers of the troops filled the entire sky.

The army of destruction that the Emperor had prophesied and the Secretary General had warned about.

It had now completely disappeared.

< Epilogue. >

“Phew……”

It was an incomparably bright morning.

Birds chirping outside the window.

The cool breeze blowing beyond.

Children’s laughter in the distance mixed with people’s voices.

It was a perfect day to finish work that had been done for many long years.

“Kalhyram Republic’s First Supreme Commander, Eugene Lorentz.”

At the voice calling my name, I slowly turned my head to look at the platform.

A very young appearance in formal attire.

But the man with resolute light in his eyes was staring at me with an indescribable expression.

“After achieving the great feat of continental unification, Supreme Commander, you have spent a long time resolving numerous crises behind the scenes of the nation you created.”

“As payment for the crime of providing the catalyst for the Monster War. That’s why.”

I brushed off his attempt to set a solemn mood.

All this talk about supreme sacrifice and decisions for national salvation, that’s not it.

I just got caught up in it and was paying my dues.

“……”

Seeing me speak like that, the young man who was the 17th Supreme Commander of the Kalhyram Republic nodded heavily.

Not good with jokes, this one.

His name was Riley… what was it?

With how many times they’ve changed, it’s getting hard to remember.

“Even taking that into account, you have dedicated yourself to us for 100 years.”

“The Korhonen Puppet Incident. The Magic Noble Revival Movement. And even the attempt to restore the old Kalhyram royal family… Without Your Excellency, we could not have maintained this peace.”

The ones who added those words were the two standing on either side of the man.

The current Minister of Defense and Director of the Intelligence Department.

“Considering the Supreme Commander’s achievements, I know this ceremony doesn’t match your status.”

Hearing me mutter that, Supreme Commander Riley slowly opened his mouth.

“However, please understand. To us, your existence is…”

“A top national secret. I know well enough, so don’t worry about it.”

If they had insisted on holding a retirement ceremony in front of all citizens, I was planning to overturn everything from my end.

After 100 years have passed, only these people know of my existence.

Because Eugene Lorentz, the first Supreme Commander of Kalhyram, was processed as having died long ago.

Why, you ask?

Ah, this reason is really something.

‘The mastermind behind continental unification and the great hero who ended the Monster War… was actually keeping the Monster Queen at home…’

Reading Guille’s report, Erich alternately looked at me and Guille with eyes that said “what nonsense is this?”

But what could we do? It was the truth.

‘What do you think would happen if this information got out?’

‘The Supreme Commander’s and our government’s prestige would hit rock bottom, and all those rebel forces we suppressed would start acting up again saying they knew this would happen?’

‘But we can’t just bury this incident either? How many people died because of this?’

‘Right. So what should we do?’

Sorry, but the “all’s well that ends well” excuse wouldn’t work with these guys.

If you caused trouble, you had to pay the price – that was common sense.

After racking their brains for a long time.

Guille and Erich, who held the power over my life and death, came up with an oh-so amazing conclusion!

‘Let’s retire him the moment his Supreme Commander term ends!’

‘And then launder his identity and use him as a classified military asset!’

‘What?’

And so, on the day I finished my Supreme Commander term and had the retirement ceremony.

I put back on my old Special Magical Power Unit Deputy Commander title that I had laid down long ago, and worked like a dog until now.

“Making someone who kept singing about wanting to retire work for 100 years. Guille, Erich… those conscienceless bastards.”

If there’s any consolation, it’s that they gave me more than enough time to spend with Mari.

With that thought, I looked at the photos of past Supreme Commanders beyond the platform.

First was me.

Second was Guille.

Third was Erich.

Looking at it like this, those friends really did well for themselves, didn’t they.

Looking at my friends in their prime years, I muttered in a hollow voice.

“And if you said all that, you should have at least lived to see me retire, shouldn’t you?”

“……”

Actually, I could have quit anytime I wanted to.

With control over the monster army and the power of the primal imprint, it was nonsense to try to bind me with laws and crimes.

However, I accepted this duty.

The 100 years I promised Irene.

If I could protect the world I created during that time, there was nothing better than that.

“But.”

Breaking away from the gloomy thoughts momentarily.

Riley, who had drawn my attention, began speaking in a solemn voice.

“Your duty of protecting the nation that you were carrying out… expires as of this hour today.”

Saying that, he extended an old document with his gloved hand.

A contract document with Guille’s, Erich’s, and my signatures.

Seeing traces of old friends, a faint smile leaked from deep in my chest.

“Therefore, by the special authority of the current Kalhyram Supreme Commander.”

“……”

“Eugene Lorentz. I hereby pardon all crimes you have been burdened with.”

Under the watch of friends who had gone ahead, their successor solemnly declared.

“It’s been long.”

After a while, answering like that, I removed the rank insignia pinned to my military uniform and placed it on the platform.

I took off the military cap I had worn for so long and placed it before the platform, and returned the military sword I had received when first commissioned.

As a soldier.

I returned everything I had used in the process of building and protecting this country to them completely.

After finishing all that.

Snap!

I straightened my posture and gave a crisp salute.

“Special Magical Power Unit Deputy Commander Eugene Lorentz reports receiving discharge orders as of —-/–/–.”

“Kalhyram Supreme Commander Riley Alberk. As the supreme commander of the Kalhyram Army and representative of the continental people, I approve your discharge.”

A brief salute. And a handshake.

Looking at the current Supreme Commander who showed clear signs of tension, I quietly opened my mouth.

“It won’t be easy.”

Shoulders that flinched.

As if he hadn’t expected me to speak to him, he looked at me with wide eyes.

“Your era will be a world that operates through dialogue and understanding. It will be much more of a headache than for me, who solved everything with violence.”

“…Yes.”

I’m feeling that painfully already.

With a bitter smile, the current Supreme Commander who said that parted his tightly closed lips and spoke to me.

“But we will live on regardless.”

Saying that, he looked at me while maintaining his characteristically clear gaze.

“Just as you did long ago.”

“…You have a way with words.”

The Supreme Commander and the two people beside him slowly bowing their heads as they watched my back.

This was enough.

If the sparks of the next generation saw me off, no better ceremony was needed.

“Do well.”

With those final words, I turned around and walked outside.

The world that the Emperor designed and I created.

Filling that world with goodwill and passion would be something they would have to do themselves.

***

Step- Step-

After the brief retirement ceremony, I walked for a while.

I did have a car I bought long ago, but somehow didn’t feel like riding it.

[…your life. Add vitality to your life!]

[Your interest is needed for desert restoration in the southwestern region. For donation inquiries, call — —-…]

The city’s noises were chaotically intermingled.

Billboards, neon signs.

The massive news screen embedded in the center of the Kalhyram government building.

Roads being paved, subways being opened, planes flying through the sky.

“When radio first came out, people said it would change the world completely, and now we’ve come this far.”

It took a long time for the world to become like this.

My friends and I who saved the continent became figures in history books and biographies, and the Special Magical Power Unit barracks bustling with people became the Continental Unification War Memorial.

The time until one generation passed and the next began to fade.

If there’s one thing I learned while living through all that long time.

It’s that time can solve more problems than I thought.

[…completed. With this, the continental general election held 2 days ago has successfully concluded. This holds even more significance as it is the first national general election held 70 years after continental unification and Westraine’s annexation.]

[That’s right. Though the eastern and western continents continued to conflict without integration even after unification, this was made possible thanks to newly inaugurated Supreme Commander Riley’s decision. Additionally…]

Letting the flowing news pass by, I continued walking.

Past the city bustling with people.

Onto a quiet country road in the suburbs.

And after walking for quite a while longer, a well-maintained columbarium came into view.

[Marlene Buckenheim]

[The light that illuminated my life.]

“This will be the last time, Mari.”

After sitting down in front of Mari’s grave, I replaced the old flowers with new ones.

They say all that remains after time passes are photos.

True to those words, various photos were arranged before Mari’s grave that greeted me.

“You said it on your final journey. That you were happy because of me. So don’t be sad.”

Reaching out, I examined the photos one by one.

Mari smiling brightly in her wedding dress.

Friends met at the Special Magical Power Unit Veterans Association.

The scene when we adopted our daughter Meryl.

The lake park we all went to as a family to celebrate Meryl’s academy enrollment.

And the scene of that preciously raised daughter graduating university and having her wedding.

When we saw our first grandchild.

And that grandson growing up tall, grinning while wearing my old military cap…

“Then I’m glad.”

As if reflecting on my past life, I spent a long time stroking the old photos.

Those who were with me.

And those I loved.

After watching all their endings, I had arrived here.

“Eugene.”

At the voice from behind me, I slowly turned my head.

Irene.

Looking exactly the same as 100 years ago, she was looking at me with a smile.

“You came early.”

“Yes. Because I wanted to see you quickly.”

Hearing that, I took out an old pistol from inside my coat.

Heresy.

The weapon I obtained after killing my master in the original story.

A weapon that had cut through countless battlefields and spat out innumerable bullets.

Click.

After placing it down in front of Mari’s grave, I slowly got up.

My hands that had been full of wrinkles had become perfectly clean long ago, and my elderly body bearing all traces of time had returned to its appearance from 100 years ago long since.

Now that I had finished everything I needed to do.

There was no need to keep up appearances.

“Was it fun?”

“……”

Taking a step forward, I took Irene’s outstretched hand.

The question Irene posed to me.

Hearing it, I spoke with a smiling face:

“More or less.”

“What, how bland.”

With that brief exchange, I walked forward holding Irene’s hand.

Into the shadows where nothing could be seen.

A world full of uncertainty.

Nothing was determined, but that didn’t matter.

Just as I had prevented the destined destruction and created a new world.

I could forge the end of my journey myself.

Do Your Own Revolution- The End

< Afterword. >

Yes. This is the author.

A novel I was going to scrap after about 12 chapters ended up coming this far.

It feels like just yesterday I was surprised when it made Today’s Best, and now I’m writing the final chapter, it really gives me new feelings.

It must be thanks to the readers who showed interest in my inadequate writing and watched until the end.

Looking back, every chapter I published was filled with regrets.

What if I had done this differently in the previous chapter, what if I had done that differently. When I thought about it, there was no end.

But at the same time, I learned so much while serializing.

What I’m good at, what I’m not good at.

What stories readers want, what developments they like.

Though I grandly said “afterword,” I actually don’t have much to say.

I just thought expressing gratitude this way would be better than briefly adding to the author’s note.

To the readers who read [Do Your Own Revolution].

To the readers who left comments and gave advice.

And to the readers who followed until the end.

Because of all of you, I could become an author and come this far.

I’ll learn more and grow more to return with my next work without delay.

Thank you.

< Afterword. > End

Hi everyone, thisn is Dawn the translator of this series.

I hope you had fun reading this series with my inadequate translation.

Thank you so much to those who read this series until the end.

And special thanks to you who bought the advanced chapters using your own money, it’d been a big help on my life and I can continue doing translation work even though my English and my translation is lacking a lot. Geniunely, thank you very much.

Please, if you can show some support to the author. Big please.

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Hope to see you on the next series I’ll translate, see you later!