I Became The Leader Of A Revolution In A Romance Fantasy

< Chapter 29: Evil Spirits of the Old World – 2 >

The draft repayment plan was completed.

Our congressional office, which had received the documents, reviewed them overnight and soon fell into a heavy silence.

Lize, rummaging through something without a word, muttered resolutely as she took out weapons and armor.

“…I am ready.”

It seemed she had a solid plan to ensure at least a gun or a sword hit the mark.

‘Though it was my suggestion.’

The Republic truly was a conscienceless debtor.

But, lacking a conscience wasn’t the only thing missing in this country.

With no answers and no future, was it really surprising to be without conscience as well?

#

A few weeks later.

The circus troupe preparing for a tour gathered.

“Count.”

“‘Congressman,’ please. Congressman Roche.”

“Ahem.”

Congressman Jean Paul Roche, who possessed considerable domestic combat power referred to as spiritual pressure.

He had decided to accompany us, the revolutionist congressmen, whom he had previously dismissed as ignorant.

Given the era, diplomacy wasn’t about nurturing professional bureaucrats but relying on the networks and know-how of a few diplomatic noble families.

In the case of the kingdom, it was the Roche family.

And as expected from someone whose family business was diplomacy, Congressman Roche brought his family as his deputy and successor.

“……”

That woman, who bit her lips tightly the moment she saw me.

My companion, aside from the driver, was just Lize.

Originally, a certain level of escort force was supposed to accompany us under the pretext of support, but the staff was reduced to maximize the appearance of a private visit.

###

The vehicle from Congressman Roche’s office, determined to lead, started moving first.

“Ah, Congressman! Have a safe trip!”

“Take care!”

The staff of the congressional office vied to see us off.

While I waved back, Jini started the vehicle.

Beeeep-

The sound of transparent steam spewing out was very much like a whistle.

As the boiler, which took up the entire front of the vehicle, ignited, the intricately intertwined pipes and pistons began to operate.

A strange world that seemed both like the 19th and the 20th century. But the most peculiar technological feature had to be this steam engine.

Even after a year since my possession, I still hadn’t fully adapted to the sight of Jini in the driver’s seat, adjusting the pressure of the chassis with pedals and valves.

“Boss!”

“‘Congressman,’ I said.”

“Oops, Congressman. We’re off!”

Lize and I waved until the congressional office staff were out of sight.

Lize returned to her composed secretary demeanor and handed me the documents.

“First, it’s the Logres Empire. We will move to the port and use a civilian ship.”

“The Logres Empire.”

A great empire that, despite being a mere island nation, operated the largest number of colonies worldwide.

Is there a need to elaborate?

It’s the British Empire.

However, as the necessity for economic monopolies through colonies diminished and industrialization progressed, making cheap labor less important than infrastructure and skilled workers, the empire’s prestige was shaking.

– An old victor standing at the twilight of an era.

That would be the most appropriate description of the current Logres Empire.

Ms. Lize continued speaking while sharing the itinerary.

“This visit is entirely personal. After disembarking, we will move to the Foreign Minister’s residence by 18:00. At 20:30, there’s a meeting with the Prime Minister.”

It’s truly a disguise akin to a spy mission.

My head throbbed with a dull ache.

I pressed my temples.

“As expected from the country of 007.”

Oh, by the way, there really is a spy agency under the empire’s Foreign Ministry.

Its nickname is ‘National Intelligence Service Room 6 (MI6)’.

The head of the organization always had the codename M.

Elite agents belonging to the organization were issued ‘licenses to kill’, and they used their license numbers as codenames.

…Honestly, at this point, I think Ian Fleming would have to accept being grabbed by the collar.

“By the way, Congressman Roche’s connections are indeed impressive. Arranging such an unofficial meeting with ease.”

I could easily respond to Ms. Lize’s admiration.

“It’s the power of marriage alliances. The wife of the empire’s Foreign Minister is from the Roche family.”

“Huh?”

If you count throughout its history, the family had secured over 30 countries through marriage alone, combining the main and branch families.

Luckily, the world of romantic fantasy is genetically tolerant of incest, or else, by now, the high-ranking nobles of the old world would be riddled with hemophilia, and the family would have become the root of all evil.

“The surnames are different, so it’s hard to tell, but it’s a household that receives direct support from the main Roche family.”

Ms. Lize marveled.

This is the power of someone who could read the descriptions in the novel.

###

We switched from cars to a train, and after disembarking at the northern port city, we regrouped on a ship to cross the sea.

Congressman Roche was the first to acknowledge me.

“Congressman Hastings.”

This time, he addressed me correctly.

“Congressman Roche. You’ve worked hard.”

“…Ten hours, the world has certainly improved, hasn’t it?”

Despite his words, his face was so exhausted he looked like he might die soon.

I chuckled and greeted Camille as well.

“Congressman Roche, you’ve been through a lot too.”

“……”

For some reason, Camille swallowed hard, unable to respond.

Congressman Roche, standing next to her, glared at her.

“Camille. What kind of attitude is that?”

At his stern rebuke, Camille’s shoulders flinched.

She muttered in a barely audible voice, “F-Father.”

“A member of the Roche family may be incompetent, but they must never be rude!”

It was a demeanor typical of a diplomatic family that professionally churned out Cinderella stories aiming for upward marriages. Their entire household practically operated as a love manipulation squad.

I didn’t bother to intervene.

There was no need for me to add anything, and it didn’t seem like butting in would help Camille anyway.

So I just quietly stared at the waves.

‘The weather is amazing.’

It was sarcasm.

The sky was entirely gray.

The winter sea was as harsh as Congressman Roche’s face, with white foam flashing like frost over the heavy navy waves.

Honestly, who would want to cross the North Sea in this kind of weather?

The murmurs of the sailors about the clouds only added to the anxiety.

As I was standing there, I sensed someone approaching.

With a hesitant demeanor, Camille had come closer.

Unable to meet my gaze, she fidgeted nervously, finally breaking under the piercing gaze of Congressman Roche behind her.

“…I deeply apologize.”

“Apologize? What do you mean?”

I replied with a light nod.

Congressman Roche cleared his throat and then apologized.

“I failed to educate my daughter properly.”

“Haha, not at all.”

I stroked my chin, refusing to agree with Congressman Roche’s excessive attitude.

“Actually, I’m relieved.”

“Hmm?”

“If Camille had acted friendly towards me, I would have been on guard. Isn’t it more suspicious if she liked someone who’s practically a traitor?”

“!”

Congressman Roche widened his eyes.

Then he chuckled mischievously and added, “So you are aware you’re a traitor.”

“If I wasn’t, it’d be a problem with my intelligence.”

I tapped my head lightly.

Even the stern Congressman Roche let out a slight chuckle.

“Congressman Hastings, you are more candid than I expected. I wonder if you are the same young man I knew.”

“……Well, as the world changes, I have to change too.”

“Indeed, that’s a very fitting statement. Cheers to that.”

Congressman Roche mimed clinking glasses and then quietly stared at the sea beside me.

After a long pause, he finally spoke up.

“……In truth, calling you a traitor feels somewhat unfair.”

“?”

“Even if it wasn’t Congressman Hastings, what happened would have happened anyway. So, for us royalists to blame you, well…”

He paused for a moment and let out a deep sigh.

With a face that looked as if he had aged several years, he murmured.

“……There are parts that are inevitable due to our positions. I just felt like saying that.”

“You are much more candid than I imagined, Congressman Roche.”

I meant it.

I never expected to hear such words from these idiots and fools.

Congressman Roche gave a bitter smile.

“There’s no one watching. Just in case, if you mention this conversation when we return to the capital, I’ll deny everything.”

“Oh dear.”

At the same time, it was a grim forewarning that the Republic’s political arena would remain full of idiots and fools in the future.

Not because individuals were stupid, but because they were bound by their ‘positions.’

The power of this parliamentary monstrosity was that it made rational judgment and compromise impossible.

“……Anyway, resolving this issue is the only way to open up a future for this country, whether you’re a royalist or a revolutionary. Let’s try to cooperate well.”

“I am counting on the capabilities of the Roche family.”

Congressman Roche gave a cold smile.

“Everyone knows that the main force of this operation is Congressman Hastings, so there’s no need for such flattery.”

Despite his words, he couldn’t hide the straightening of his posture.

It seemed that Camille also stood a bit straighter next to him.

‘…Are they idiots?’

Hoooooo-!

Just then, the ship’s chimney released steam.

It was the boarding signal.

We embarked on our voyage towards the Empire.