It's Not a Funeral, It's a Festival
“This operation must succeed. It’s not difficult. It’s extremely easy. However, the result will be more glorious than anything else.”
“The students from Lasquer and Abillesti. And the traitors among our own kind. We don’t even need to kill them. Just wounding them will suffice. That way, we can damage the Empire’s diplomatic relations.”
“Then the neighboring countries will find out. That they protect their own citizens but are negligent toward foreigners! It will be a perfect justification for the hardliners hiding inside!”
Recalling the old man’s words, I fiddled with the dagger hidden in my pocket.
Our Luzens are a great force with honor and ideals.
Malignant Empire bastards who want to fill the continent with only their own order.
Some foolish compatriots who bowed their heads in response to that Empire.
We were strong enough to fight and endure against both forces.
Yet, we collapsed like a lie. It happened in an instant.
A rumor spread that the person who led the fight against the Empire had suddenly lost his life.
At first, I thought it was propaganda from the enemy. I didn’t believe it.
But when the leadership split and the forces suddenly tore apart, I realized it was true.
“This is definitely the work of the Empire bastards!”
“They are clearly trying to divide us!”
As soon as he fell, the leadership split apart as if they had been waiting.
It was unbelievable. Their appearance was worse than the Empire, whom we hated so much.
Why, with such great enemies in front of us, are they arguing among themselves?
His colleagues, who saw this pathetic sight, split in their opinions.
Some surrendered, some hid, and some said they would eliminate the traitors.
In the midst of this, I crossed the border in the darkness with those who shared my views.
“Only we are right. Only the Empire is wrong.”
To prove our righteousness, we willingly advanced to the wrong place.
We shouted that and secretly set up camp in the Empire and prepared.
The Empire is strong. I didn’t want to admit it, but I had to.
Previously, I trembled before our elves’ magic and archery that was close to divine.
But now, we’ve caught up a lot with magic, and above all, gunpowder has spread widely.
Guns made it easier to turn ordinary people into soldiers.
Through that, the Empire was able to build a much larger army than before.
On the contrary, our elves have always suffered from chronic manpower shortages compared to the Empire.
The violence of numbers was terrifying. Our Luzens were constantly being pushed back like that.
But thanks to that, we learned one lesson.
“We can’t do it alone.”
“If numbers are lacking, we can fill them from elsewhere.”
Yes. It was foolish to fight the Empire alone.
If they overwhelm us with numerical superiority, we would do the same.
To put it precisely, we must not be allowed to use the numerical advantage.
If guns and swords are pointed from all sides, is there a way for the Empire?
Even if it’s the Empire, a two-front or rather three-front war would be impossible.
That’s why this operation was not difficult at all, really easy.
It’s not even killing; just giving a moderate threat would be a great success.
We also believed we would succeed in this operation.
“Gganfs.”
Until a strange returning student suddenly intruded.
“Choose one of the two. Manju-bbang or hotteok. Which one should I kill you with.”
*
The first target the bastards took was, as expected, the Lasquer side students.
Lasquer. A military powerhouse that could match the Empire in military strength.
Well, and it was famous for its knights. That remains the same now.
However, after the discovery and distribution of gunpowder, it has slightly lost its shine compared to before. That’s reality.
Lasquer also acknowledged and accepted that. Unlike the Gganfs who shout “Archery is the best!”
They still revere chivalry and cherish swords, but they actively accept guns and gunpowder too.
While doing so, they also restored their relationship with the Empire to a suitable level, which had been quite awkward.
“I can understand why they were praised as a country as strong as the Empire in many ways.”
Different from the Gganfs who, out of pride, did self-sabotaging acts that made them lag behind the times.
At the very least, even Heigens had accepted gunpowder and guns quite late.
Those who quickly lowered their pride in swords and knights improved their relationship with the Empire.
It was a natural result because most gunpowder was produced in the Empire.
Of course, even in Lasquer, there are hardliners.
Now that they are armed with guns and gunpowder and have outstanding knights, it’s worth trying.
The fortunate thing is that Lasquer still has the dove faction holding the power tight, though...
“As long as a suitable justification falls, the regime will collapse in an instant.”
That’s why the Gganfs are targeting the students in the first place.
To restrain the Empire from all sides. So they can reduce the pressure on themselves.
Far away, in a somewhat distant place, a female student is seen chatting with some students.
According to information from the Special Intelligence Agency, that student is a collateral branch of the Lasquer royal family.
She doesn’t have any particularly large power or influence. She just came as a form of improving relations with the Empire.
But even if it’s collateral, the royal family definitely carries a heavy name.
If such a person is attacked in the middle of the Imperial Academy… just imagining it makes me dizzy.
Probably, a Buster Call will fall at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tomorrow.
Honestly, I don’t care about that far. Whether it happens or not, it’s not my business as a returning student.
What bothers me is why they have to do this kind of thing in the academy. If they did it on the battlefield, it would have been fine, but coming all the way to a peaceful place to do what?
What crime do these students have? Even against civilians? They’re not in their right mind?
And most importantly, this is the first festival I’ve ever enjoyed. You Gganfs.
“Hey.”
“What… kuhk!”
I punched the man who was approaching the Lasquer Kingdom student straight in the stomach.
At first glance, he looks like an ordinary person, but I’ve seen such disguises enough on the battlefield.
Crack—
When I grabbed his face and pulled, a sound of something tearing came with it, and sharp ears appeared.
They had attached a small scroll to distort the magic like this.
“…One in front. Two behind. Three on left and right. They came a lot.”
My identity was already scattered across the academy. No, the entire Empire.
I couldn’t not know who I was. And I was a participant in the Luzens war that the Gganfs hated so much.
And in my hand, a compatriot who had fainted with foam in his mouth was being held.
Those guys would stick to me if they gave up targeting terrorists.
If I make a rational judgment, it would be better to divide the numbers in half or perform the mission.
But when the Gganf specialty comes in, it was greatly helpful.
That was because my compatriots would not abandon even if they die.
Ah. Precisely, only ‘compatriots who oppose the Empire’. Heigens were killed well.
Anyway, you Gganf bastards. You have to know at least one thing.
Keep the guys as far away from people as possible.
To a place with little human traffic. Even better if there are none.
“It seems they want to surround from front and back. I don’t have time for that. If you do, your comrades will die.”
I secretly grabbed the Gganf’s wrist and twisted it hard.
“Kuaaaaak!”
He’s not dying. You bastard. With this much, even the person you despise so much won’t die.
Since you’re tougher than us, you’ll heal with medicine. So I’ll twist the other hand too.
“Hey hey. Stay still. You’ll get hurt.”
Crack—
“Uwaaak!!”
Even like this? Like this? Then how about twisting both knees?
Just as I was thinking that, six Gganfs appeared from front and back.
“…You are that guy.”
“Yeah. I am that guy.”
But what kind of guy is that.
“It was good. Rather than wounding a few students, it would be more effective to kill the Medal of Honor recipient. Especially since you received it for massacring our compatriots, it’s even more perfect!”
What are you saying. My medal was not received by killing many, but by obtaining many.
And perfect? There won’t be perfection here? The world is really weird.
I shook my head and placed the bag I was holding beside me.
Shashashak—
At the same time, the guys drew their swords or knives and prepared for battle.
Fortunately, there was no one carrying a gun. After all, if there was, they would have been caught by guards at the main gate right away.
“Everyone knows today is a festival. On such days, if you see blood, it’s not good.”
“Don’t worry. Human. The blood you’ll see today will be only your blood.”
“Wow. That sounds really exciting.”
I took out a still warm manju-bbang from the bag and placed it beside it.
“…What is that?”
“Someone’s ticket to the afterlife. From now on, I’m going to kill one of you with just this.”
Then the expressions of the Gganfs all soured.
They seemed to have noticed that this is food.
Probably thinking I’m insulting them.
But there’s no way. Why would I do such a thing with this precious manju-bbang.
“You bastard! It’s revenge for the compatriots who died at the hands of the Empire bastards!”
The most patient-looking Gganf rushed in front of me.
I quickly grabbed a manju-bbang in one hand and subtly turned my body to dodge the sword.
Other guys hadn’t rushed in yet. This one was too aggressively charging.
Thanks. Gganf. Thanks to this, things will be easier.
I strongly hit the Gganf’s solar plexus with my fist.
Once hit, it’s a place where even breathing is difficult for most things.
“Kuhk?!”
When breathing becomes difficult, all living beings instinctively open their mouths.
Like a desperate body trying to take in as much oxygen as possible.
I grabbed his mouth and pushed the manju-bbang I was holding into it.
“Kuruk! Kuhk!”
Into the esophagus, not the airway. Blocking the breathing hole at once, restricting all movement.
I kicked the struggling Gganf’s legs and knocked him down.
While tightening his throat, I checked the movements of the other guys in front.
If they came rushing at me, I would send them to the afterlife right away.
But they didn’t move. No, they couldn’t move?
“Kurh. Kkurureuk—”
Looking at the terrorist slowly dying from below. The Gganf who is getting more desperate for breath.
The more you try to move to survive, the faster the blood circulates, and the more oxygen is needed.
But nothing is coming in. The thought of dying dominates the body. As a result, the heart beats faster.
Still, you can’t breathe. This is like going deeper into the water without giving up on drowning.
Gradually becoming gentler is really pleasing. As expected, good Gganfs are only dead Gganfs.
The body of the staggering guy soon slumped. I didn’t see a drop of blood. It was okay, in a way.
It’s a bit unpleasant that I used up one of my precious manju-bbang because of these Gganfs.
“…”
“…”
The remaining guys already had the look of being tired of it.
It is absolutely not allowed to do such things in front of the enemy. Why are you showing fear?
I clicked my tongue and put my hand back into the bag.
And this time, I took out one hotteok and placed it where the manju-bbang was.