Terraforming: The Revolutionary Leader's Invitation
*Anyone who puts themselves in my shoes would realize it, but Gerard is either dead or suffered an equivalently severe injury. According to the original story, there's a high probability he dies. I mentioned it in passing before. It said something like, 'The instructor who led the revolution at the training camp was executed.'
But now, I can't fully trust the original story's contents. Not just because I've altered the future, but there's more to it. When I returned seven years into the past, I confirmed that the leader of that incident—the instructor—is named Gerard.
However... 'Even seven years later, the rebel leader was still Gerard...' He survived all the way to seven years from now. Is this a divergence from the original because I, not Lee Kangin, came back seven years? In the original, the name of the figure who attacked the training camp wasn't Gerard.
That was because the perspective was fixed on Lee Kangin. On the day of the attack, even Lee Kangin in the original never encountered the rebel leader directly. He only faced two of his underlings. The same went for me. I never even saw Gerard's face. Chris Bennett—Gwangnyeon-i—never gave that name to the goblin either.
In the original, there really were trainees kidnapped by the rebels. That's why Gwangnyeon-i naming the goblin Gerard carried a mocking weight—the situation wasn't lighthearted at all. It was too serious to brush off as a joke; massive damage had occurred that no one could laugh about. At least, the atmosphere in the original wasn't as upbeat as what I experienced. Gwangnyeon-i, Brack, the trainees, and even Lee Kangin were all somber and grave.
In other words, the name 'Gerard' never appeared even once in the original. The first time I learned the rebel leader's name was Gerard was when Gwangnyeon-i named the goblin. 'The probability that Gerard isn't the original's "revolutionary leader"? That's... way too low.'
The leader was explicitly described as an instructor at the training camp. There aren't many instructors. Eastern Training Camp, Western, Southern, Northern—four in total. Even at most, there wouldn't be more than ten instructors. Plus, becoming the leader requires special qualities. With so many swayed trainees and combatants, the leader needs the ability to draw people in.
...Like, unbelievably outstanding charisma, for example.
"More! Push harder! Squeeze out every last drop of stamina you have left!"
"Huff...! Huff...! Yes, sir!!"
- *Cough! Hack!*
- *Urp... Blech...*
All the trainees were forced to endure the brutal training. There wasn't even a hint of group protest like with Gwangnyeon-i. It was the inexplicable aura of this unknown Gerard that gripped them. Even though they'd only known him for two weeks.
Far from rebellion, some fanatics were even blaming themselves for failing to follow Gerard's orders. It was like looking at cult followers.
'Fuck... how could that guy not be the leader?'
As time passed, I couldn't help but feel it in my bones. Gerard was the perfect fit for the revolutionary leader. If he pulled a trainee into a private room and methodically preached his ideology... hardly any would resist.
With only about ten instructors, could there really be two who fit so perfectly? 'Instructor' is a role reserved for a handful of elites, so it's not impossible... but the odds are extremely slim.
- *Thud!*
"Huff... Huff..."
"Instructor! A trainee's collapsed!"
"...Take a quick break. The rest of you, keep training."
Chris hadn't actually collapsed. With her exceptional innate talent, she'd achieved Mana Awakening just over a week after arriving. Her current mana reserves were low, but Mana Awakening users get a slight boost to basic stamina recovery, so she was holding up decently. Plus the daily Green Yam.
"I'll carry her for a bit."
"Huff...! Haaah...! Huff...!"
- *Whoosh...*
The trainee Gerard pointed to hoisted the collapsed one onto their back and carried them away from the training ground. Watching that, I picked up my interrupted train of thought.
'Back to the point... The odds of Gerard surviving are pretty high. But he'll at least suffer major injuries.'
The probability of him taking severe wounds was very high. Even now, seven years ago, he had instructor-level combat prowess. Surviving to seven years from now? He must have gained incomparable power.
But in the future I experienced, that wasn't the case. 'If Gerard had trained normally for seven years, Gwangnyeon-i couldn't have held out during the attack.'
She should've been defeated in seconds. There's only one reason she wasn't. Gerard was hindered from growing for those seven years by some cause. I predicted it was a massive injury.
So, one of two things: He dies right after sparking the revolution, or he suffers an injury so grave it takes seven years to recover. That's why I stated those two possibilities from the start.
'Damn... The problem is I don't know when he'll launch it. Within the next two months, assuming he thinks I'm here?'
It's fine. Like with past batches he's taught, he'll try to recruit the current trainees. And as the overwhelming top trainee, I'm priority number one.
I can pretend to be swayed by his words and gauge the timing. 'Or I could fan the flames myself and control when it happens.'
I couldn't approach Gerard first. Any suspicious move was off-limits. I decided to bide my time patiently, without rushing.
*
"Let's talk for a moment."
Three days ago, same as before, when I went to get my Prum from Gerard. As I greeted him and turned to leave the meeting room, he called out to me.
'Finally making contact?'
I turned back to face him. Gerard looked at me with serious eyes. He gestured to the empty chair in front of his desk.
"Yes, Instructor."
I nodded and sat where he indicated. Gerard sat across from me, desk between us.
"..."
Rather than starting right away, he paused slightly. The air in the room shifted. A subtle weight settled on my shoulders, building tension throughout the meeting room.
It was deliberate. 'To make me focus on his first words.'
I could read Gerard's intent plainly, but I played dumb, swallowing hard with a tense expression.
- *Gulp.*
Confirming my reaction, Gerard deemed it time to speak. His heavy voice reverberated through the room.
"...The situation humanity faces right now is dire. Monsters eye our territories hungrily, resources are woefully insufficient, and the mouths we need to feed keep growing without end."
"...A crisis... yeah."
"Exactly. But the gravest issue is that threats aren't just external. Here... there are too many selfish people."
"Selfish...?"
"Yes! Since we've all been dropped into this world together, our lives are bound as one on the line between survival and death! Even full cooperation might not guarantee we make it. Yet... amid all that, there are scum chasing only their own gain."
"..."
"In this new world without rules or restraints, they've made up their own arbitrary ones to fatten their bellies, legally exploiting the lower classes."
"...'They' meaning...?"
Gerard silently pointed in one direction without a word. South. Straight that way lay the Central Command Post.
"This can't go on. Prioritizing individuals like this... we must become one body. That's the only way to survive this world. So, what's needed right now?"
I pretended to ponder. What answer did this revolution-stirrer want? It came easily.
"...We need to change those arbitrary rules first."
- *Nod!*
"Right! Spot on! We need new rules!! For combatants, Shelter residents we protect, even leaders—no exceptions! Thorough! Fair! Powerful!!"
Excited by my words, Gerard spat as he spoke. He thought I grasped his ideology. Of course, I was just saying what he wanted to hear.
The effect was clear. His fondness for me surged dramatically.
"This isn't Earth! Unlike there, our enemies are clear! With our lives on the line, we need rules different from Earth's! And not just that. We need a leader who enforces those rules with an iron fist first and foremost. And I... am ready to take that role."
"You mean...!"
As expected. My hunch was confirmed: Gerard is the leader.
"Over a hundred have already joined my noble cause. All elite... active combatants with exceptional skills."
A hundred! Fuck, that's more than I thought. Losing a hundred frontline combatants is scary enough, but them turning enemy? ...A chill ran down my back, but Gerard kept talking.
- *Blah blah blah...*
About his new goals, rules, direction. It sounded familiar. Gerard packaged it nicely, but I pierced the core.
'This... is socialism? Absolute authority concentrated in one person. Brutal, merciless suppression for defying discipline. Collective good over individual gain. Constant combat readiness under iron-fisted rule...'
It resembled the worst-imaged socialism: Stalinism. A dangerous ideology where one absolute ruler could unleash horrors like the nuclear pig north of Korea in South Korea, if they willed it.
'No way... a hundred people bought into this bullshit?'
I don't know much about socialism—just high school world history for college entrance exams. But I know it breeds massive side effects. History proves it.
Why didn't people see it? 'Ah... fuck... right, combatants are all uneducated...'
Educated folks would recognize what Gerard's ideology meant, but combatants are those screened for lacking education, skills, or degrees. Most wouldn't grasp the bullshit. Plus, his followers' blind faith amplified it.
"...That's why I hope you'll join us. Please don't refuse. We need you."
The reactionary commie before me spoke. He looked utterly convinced I'd join.
I kept a grave expression throughout, intentionally. To signal 'I'm listening intently.'
Then I shifted: mouth slightly open without showing teeth, eyebrows raised more than eyes, leaning forward a bit. The classic pose of Deeply Touched
"Thank you for the opportunity. I absolutely want to join your great cause, Instructor."
"Hm! Excellent!"
- *Grab!*
Gerard extended his hand like for a handshake; I clasped it with both of mine, face full of emotion.
A few more exchanges followed. He probed if I was faking, testing me. I scratched his itch with perfect answers each time. Not hard for me.
Soon, he seemed convinced I was hooked on his ideology.
"...Alright. It's late; get some rest. Good work."
"No, sir. I won't let you down."
"Don't act rashly with the other trainees. When the time comes, I'll call them one-on-one, like today."
"Understood."