Chapter 176

Napoleona stood with a cold smile among the generals.

Robes Fiora, upon seeing her, began to exhibit a furious expression.

“Is this your doing? Napoleona… how dare you start a rebellion…?”

“Rebellion? Where does such an insulting notion come from? In this situation, wouldn’t the term ‘revolution’ be more accurate? We’re talking about a revolution aimed at overthrowing the evil power that has plunged our nation into despair.”

“You… you wretch!”

-Click!

With anger etched on her face, Robes Fiora pulled out a handgun from her coat.

Normally, carrying weapons inside the Assembly Hall was prohibited, but for the Prime Minister, that was a special exception.

Pointing it at Napoleona, Robes Fiora shouted in a stiff voice.

“What do you know? Do you think someone like you could even comprehend the effort I’ve devoted to this nation?”

“Dedication, huh…? Well, you certainly did do a lot of work. But don’t you already know? This country has only gotten worse, not better, despite all your so-called efforts.”

“…You insolent—”

“The harder you work, the more this situation spirals into chaos; isn’t that the very definition of a villain? We will take it upon ourselves to eliminate that villain!”

“Shut up! You filthy traitors!”

Robes Fiora, her face a mask of fury, fired her weapon.

“Commander! It’s dangerous!”

“Commander!”

Other generals rushed to shield Napoleona in a hurry.

But then…

-Tick!

“…Huh?”

“!?! What… what’s this?”

The bullet that should have been fired…

But it was stuck and wouldn’t discharge.

“It seems like even God has abandoned you now.”

“…Kuh…”

Robes Fiora seethed with rage at Napoleona’s words.

Then she pulled out another gun from her coat.

And…

“! Stop her!”

“She’s trying to commit suicide! Stop her at all costs!”

Robes Fiora had the bullet pressed against her chin.

To stop her, the generals and assembly members inside the hall rushed at Robes Fiora.

As a result, they barely succeeded in grabbing the hand holding the gun.

However…

-BANG!!!

With a sharp gunshot, blood began to splatter in every direction.

Yet…

“Ugh… ugh…”

Robes Fiora’s jaw flew away from the bullet impact.

However, even with her jaw missing, she was still alive.

In a panic, those nearby rushed to her aid and started performing emergency treatment.

So, Robes Fiora was dragged away, having failed even in her attempt at suicide.

What she yelled, with her shattered jaw that made coherent speech nearly impossible, was…

“The Republic has fallen, and evil has triumphed.”

*

The Bastion Prison, utilized as a military fortress.


Inside, chaos erupted upon hearing the sudden news.

“What? A rebellion in the Assembly?”

A shocked expression crossed the face of the general—Admiral Ghiys.

The soldier who brought the report continued breathlessly.

“Yes, it appears Lady Robes Fiora has been kidnapped by the rebels, and her subordinates present were also taken away.”

“Who is the ringleader? Who dares instigate a rebellion?”

“They say it’s General Napoleona. She has incited the people to bring down Lady Robes Fiora.”

“What… what did you say?”

A rebellion led by no less than the second most powerful figure of the Republic, rather than just some rogue faction.

Admiral Ghiys realized the situation was far more serious than he expected and swiftly issued orders.

“Fetch General Maraang immediately! And put the entire army on high alert. Once Maraang arrives, we shall crush the rebels!”

“Yes, Commander.”

As preparations were made to deploy immediately, Admiral Ghiys picked up the gun hanging on the wall.

A gift from Robes Fiora, who trusted him to take on this role despite his young age.

Clutching it tightly, he vowed to rescue Robes Fiora and put an end to this rebellion.

But then…

“Commander!”

“Huh? What is it? Why are you here so soon? And… where’s Maraang?”

“Th-that’s…”

The soldier’s voice trembled as he spoke.

Upon hearing it, Admiral Ghiys’s expression hardened into stone.

*

-Tap tap tap.

Nervously yet clearly, the soldiers knocked on the door.

For some reason today, they found themselves standing in front of Maraang’s house, where he hadn’t shown up for work.

As the head of the Central Army in Pare, Maraang was usually buried in a mountain of work, leading to many late mornings due to fatigue.

Thus, whenever he was late, it was customary for his subordinates to wake him up.

However…

“…What’s going on? Why isn’t he coming out?”

“Maraang! It’s us! Please wake up!”

Normally, he would know he needed to get up, and some noise would have emerged from him.

However… today, despite their persistent knocks, silence prevailed, showing no sign of his emergence.

As their growing concern mounted, the soldiers cautiously opened the door.

Although they had never done so before, they received orders to enter if he didn’t wake—they stepped inside without hesitation.

But then…

“…Huh?”

“What… what is this? What…?”

The scene before their eyes…

It was Maraang lying dead in the bathroom.

A knife stabbed into his heart, his breath ceased.

And…

Next to him, lay his companion, another leader of the Republic, Charlotte…

Having seemingly consumed poison, holding an empty bottle in her hand, she was dead…

With her other hand tightly gripping the lifeless hand of Maraang.

*

“Hurry! The Central Army will move soon!”

“We must take the bridge first! Do not slow your pace!”

The rebels erupted from the sewer, scattering throughout Pare.

They began to seize key facilities and strategic locations in the city, one by one, ahead of the still-confused Central Army.

From the now-empty royal castle to military facilities near the Assembly and outposts in high terrain.

While the rebels moved swiftly and organizationally, the Central Army struggled to respond appropriately.

The deaths of General Maraang and de facto deputy commander Charlotte had thrown the military’s chain of command into disarray.

Moreover, many generals among the Central Army had ties to Napoleona in one way or another.

Whether it was having fought in battle together, personal friendships, or simply the respect for the woman revered as the hero who saved their nation and currently the strongest Grand Magician of the Republic.

Word of Napoleona’s uprising stirred hopes that she might right the wrongs that had transpired in this tumultuous nation.

With limbs severed and joints dislocated in what was essentially a vegetable state, nearly ten thousand Central Army soldiers found themselves unable to do anything but flounder.

One after another, they surrendered or defected to the advancing rebels.

And finally… the rebels arrived at the last stronghold of the Central Army, the Bastion Prison.

There, the leader of the rebels, Napoleona, proclaimed in a loud voice.

“Soldiers of the Republic of Frantz within Bastion! The tide has turned. Robes Fiora and her subordinates have all been captured; other rebels in Pare have surrendered or defected. As a general of the Republic, I wish for no more blood to be shed among soldiers. I hope you cease your meaningless resistance and surrender willingly. I promise no punishments will befall you if you wave the white flag now, so I encourage you to make a wise decision.”

“…Damn it… how dare that filthy traitor…”

With rage overtaking him, Admiral Ghiys ground his teeth.

He knew very well that victory was virtually impossible at this point.

But despite that, he had resolved to remain loyal to his master, Robes Fiora until the end.

Even if that end meant death.

“W-what shall we do, Commander?”

“Prepare for battle. There will be no surrender.”

“B-but Commander. It’s as they said. The tide has indeed turned. If we engage in battle now, all the soldiers here will perish.”

“I don’t care! It’s better to die proudly as a soldier of the Republic of Frantz than to live cowardly! Get into defensive formation! This is an order.”

“…”

“Ugh…”

“What are you all doing? Can’t you hear me?!”

The soldiers showed no sign of moving despite his commands.

Admiral Ghiys raised his voice, ready to give orders once more, but then…

-Click!

“! What… what are you doing?”

“We’re sorry, Commander. We can’t die like this.”

“To be honest, Lady Robes Fiora hasn’t done anything particularly commendable recently, right? We don’t want to die for such a person.”

“Y-you insolent… you filthy traitors! How dare you… how dare you treat me like this!”

“What are you waiting for? Get the Commander out of here. Now!”

“Yes!”

“Let go! I said let go!”

Thus, Admiral Ghiys found himself dragged away by subordinates and taken directly down to the basement prison.

In his place, the rebel generals issued their orders.

“Go and raise the white flag. We surrender.”