The Gap.
The difference between an ordinary soldier and one of the continent’s seven heroes is as vast as the gap between an infant and an adult man.
Those who step into the realm of the extraordinary know this and constantly restrain their power.
But this was not a situation that required restraint.
Boom—!
A tremor that seemed to shake the entire underground chamber.
The revolutionary leaders, realizing the cause, hurled curses and struggled in resistance, but it was futile.
“Silence.”
Thud—!!
With a single leisurely word, the knees of both the leaders and the soldiers under training hit the ground.
Gravity intensified to dozens of times its normal strength, leaving those unable to wield mana utterly powerless to even stay upright.
As the vibrations subsided and the soldiers, still stunned by the shock, remained speechless, Ern Astra began to speak.
“I’ll skip the formalities and get straight to the point.”
He eased the oppressive force, allowing a few soldiers to lift their heads.
Their eyes, filled with terror, met his face.
Defiance meant death.
The thought was etched into their minds like prey before a predator.
“I hear you plan to invade the Imperial Capital in a few days to spark a revolution. Don’t.”
Who are you?
Who dares to say such things?
Though too terrified to speak, the meaning was clear from their eyes alone.
“If anyone persists with this so-called revolution despite my offer of mercy, I will personally ensure their heads roll. No exceptions.”
It was a threat.
“But if you abandon the revolution now and choose to live ordinary lives, I will spare you and even provide the means to do so.”
Yet it was also an enticement.
The sudden proposition threw the soldiers into confusion.
“I know your current situation. The internal strife within your ranks, the collapse of your cause when you discovered that the revolution itself stemmed from an Imperial scheme to foster cooperation between the nobility and the throne.”
Currently, they were immobilized under Ern’s oppressive gravity and mana.
Though they couldn’t even lift a finger, it gave them the opportunity to think clearly.
“It’s true. I am Ern Astra. Former commander of the Astrape Special Forces, a division of the Imperial Secret Service, and once the personal guard of Her Highness, the First Princess Epherna Grandeum.”
Impossible.
Ern Astra, one of the Seven Heroes, was said to have died long ago.
“Believe it or not, it doesn’t matter. What you should know is this: your so-called revolution has no legitimacy whatsoever.”
What is a revolution?
Why is it fought?
Is it not to overthrow a decayed and corrupt nation to establish a new regime?
“Do you truly believe the Empire’s upper echelon is corrupt? Do you think they leech off their citizens’ hard-earned livelihoods and revel in excess?”
Step outside and see for yourselves.
Visit not just the capital but nearby villages and other provinces, and you’ll quickly understand.
The Empire may not be perfect, but it is a peaceful and prosperous nation.
“I will give you a chance to correct your misguided beliefs—or if not, simply live as citizens of the Empire. I swear this with everything I have.”
The sweet temptation caused many soldiers’ pupils to waver.
Especially among the younger generation, their expressions suggested that they were already swayed.
However—
“Don’t make me laugh—!!”
If things could be resolved this easily, they wouldn’t have resorted to terrorism in the first place.
“It’s a lie!! How can we trust your words? It’s a trick! A ploy by the Empire to lure us out and annihilate us!!”
“If I were an Imperial spy, I would’ve simply brought the army to wipe you out. You’re overestimating your importance.”
“Shut up! We fight with the belief of turning the Empire into a golden age of peace and prosperity…”
“And I’ve already explained why that’s nonsense. You must’ve debated this extensively during your internal conflicts.”
“Grr…!”
The man who raised his voice seemed to be in his thirties.
Whether he genuinely believed in the revolution or was simply brainwashed over time, Ern couldn’t tell.
“I’ll give you one hour. Think it over. Decide whether to abandon your false beliefs and live as citizens of the Empire—or die here.”
Their fates were undoubtedly bound to one of the two choices.
*****
I gathered the revolutionary soldiers in a single room, keeping them restrained.
I gave them another hour to reflect.
Meanwhile, Roen and I waited outside.
“This won’t work.”
Roen said, her face full of concern.
“If you keep them together, they’ll never betray each other. The camaraderie among the revolutionary soldiers runs deeper than you think.”
I glanced at the clock.
Fifty minutes of the two hours I had granted had passed.
“So, you’re saying they’re watching each other?”
“Yes. Especially the younger soldiers—they act more on emotion than logic. It would be better to separate them, even if it takes more time…”
“It’s fine.”
I tore my gaze from the clock and looked at Roen.
“Because I have you.”
“Me…?”
“You must be respected among the soldiers. Just look at what you’ve done. Isn’t that right?”
Even within half a day, she had managed to gather the leaders and soldiers from all over the Much-Sector.
It couldn’t have been easy, but it was possible because of the trust and loyalty they had for her.
“Objectively speaking, yes, I am respected among them.”
Roen admitted.
Ern, sensing no denial, was now confident of the plan’s success.
“You’re on my side now. As you said, the younger generation relies more on emotion than reason. But even emotional decisions need justification.”
Roen, a symbolic figure among the younger revolutionaries, had abandoned the cause.
By taking the lead, she provided justification for others to follow.
“Now it’s your turn.”
Roen tilted her head, puzzled.
*****
Creak—
The rusty, old door opened, and someone familiar stepped in.
It was Roen.
“Roen!!”
“You traitorous wench! Did you come to sell us out?”
Roen took a deep breath, steadying herself.
“Go ahead and kill us now! We will never betray the comrades who are working to make this plan succeed!”
That cursed determination.
That twisted sense of honor.
That stubborn pride.
It was exhausting.
They all knew.
They had known for a long time that their course of action was misguided.
Roen shouted.
“Please stop!! Why on earth do you want to die together!!”
“You know it as well as I do! Everything we’re doing is pointless! Success or failure, it all ends in ruin!”
“Change the country? How? Are you planning to destroy a peaceful nation? No, you’re not. So what exactly are we even trying to do?”
Even if something is old, torn, and turned to ash, a clear purpose can shine like a beacon.
But the opposite is true as well: even the finest ideals are meaningless without direction.
“You all know this!”
They marched blindly, prepared blindly, and plotted blindly for terrorism.
What purpose did any of it have?
A few soldiers, long aware of these truths, lifted their heads.
Roen pointed to the door through which she had entered.
“The man beyond that door—he’s someone remarkable. I don’t know exactly who he is, but he’s offering us a chance, and I don’t believe it’s a lie.”
Perhaps the claim that he was Ern Astra wasn’t a lie either.
“Let’s stop. Let’s stop this dangerous training, stop handling these dangerous weapons and tasks, and just live normal lives. It’s not too late.”
A young soldier stepped forward toward Roen.
“Sister.”
“Yes, As.”
“I’ll follow you.”
“You’ve made the right choice.”
Roen smiled.
As was the first.
“I’ll follow her too.”
“I’ve always thought something was wrong with this place. If there’s a chance to make things right, I’ll take it.”
“Me too!”
“I’ll join as well!”
One by one, then two, then four, then eight, then sixteen, then thirty-two.
The numbers grew steadily.
In just a few minutes, over half of the soldiers had chosen to leave the revolution behind.
By the time the allotted time had passed, only a few stubborn older members—men who clung desperately to their convictions—remained.
“I… I’ll never betray my comrades…”
“…”
Roen looked at them with a complicated expression.
Just a day ago, they had shared meals together.
It wasn’t easy for her to see them like this, and she desperately hoped they would choose otherwise.
But there are people in this world who, even knowing their beliefs are wrong, cannot let them go.
Roen shed tears for their deaths.
Ern kept his promise, providing those who renounced the revolution with funds to start new lives.
The money came from Ern’s personal account, frozen for three years after his presumed death.
It was strange that the account still existed, but for now, it sufficed.
Thus, the remnants of the revolution in the Much-Sector were dismantled.
“What do we do now?”
“Wait here for a little while. I’ll arrange citizenship for you and funds for all of you to live independently.”
“How?”
“Hmm… I’m in a bit of a rush, so I can’t explain the method right now.”
With the banquet fast approaching, there was no time to spare.
Even heading back to prepare was cutting it close, so Ern needed to act quickly.
“Don’t worry; I’ll keep my promise. I’ll even leave behind something I treasure most as collateral, so you don’t have to worry about being betrayed.”
And so—
It was time for Ern to move swiftly.
The situation was teetering on the brink of exposing his survival not just to the entire Empire, but to Epherna as well.
