Semi-Coercive Imperialist

A hair salon in Volska. For the first time in her life, Hannah had her hair permed.

“……How much is it?”

“30 Volan.”

The reflection in the mirror looked quite unfamiliar. Her rough hair now had a wavy texture that gave her something of a businesswoman’s look.

“Here.”

She had received a new ID and role from Leon.

‘Our weapons broker will subtly spread rumors that you’re trying to smuggle weapons. You approach them pretending to be a businesswoman and trace the forces behind it.’

She left the salon and walked toward the designated hotel.

‘Have you ever done reselling work before? Like buying and flipping goods?’

‘Ah, tons of times!’

Hannah had been a commoner from a backwater countryside village. But she had realized her talent quite early, and the moment she dreamed of becoming a knight, she had also understood the necessity of money.

So she worked every job she could find. She picked and sold herbs, skinned animals and sold their pelts, and hawked goods at the market, fiercely saving every coin.

‘Really?’

‘Yes. Not to brag, but before I enrolled at Empire Point, I’d earned 10,000 dollars on my own. Without that, I’d have starved to death already.’

10,000 dollars. A single night’s bar tab for some nobles, but half a year’s salary for the average worker in the Empire.

But if one said a countryside eight-year-old girl earned it by the time she was thirteen, probably no one would believe it.

‘So you’re a veteran? Then just think of it as doing the same thing on a bigger scale.’

‘……But, to look like a businesswoman, don’t I need money?’

‘Ah, it’s fine. I got a reply. From Max.’

Leon handed Hannah a key card for Volska’s most luxurious hotel,

‘Use the operational funds from here. As long as the mission succeeds, the Empire will reimburse it anyway, so spend freely.’

Right now.

Hannah was unpacking in the s⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌uite of that hotel. She quite liked how she looked in the full-length mirror.

“Maybe I should keep this hairstyle.”

The waves turned out pretty well. Back in Empire Point, it was too inconvenient, so she always kept it cut short.

─Ding-dong.

In that moment, Hannah tensed.

“…….”

Gripping a dagger, she slowly approached and stood by the wall next to the door. She probed the outside, feeling for any vibrations.

There was no presence.

Even so, she warmed up her mana and carefully opened the door.

Creeeak─

There was no one there, but a bag had been left on the floor.

Hannah brought it inside. After placing it on the table, she cautiously opened it.

“Wow…….”

Her eyes went wide. Bundles of cash packed tight like bricks inside. On top of them was a single note in Maximilian’s handwriting.

[ Op⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌eration Budget Allocation: 5,000,000 Dollars ]

Hannah stared blankly back and forth between the money and the note.

“Five million……. That’s three years of my salary.”

No, wait. After taxes, living expenses, and savings…….

“It’s more like five or six years’ worth.”

Anyway, it meant this was more than enough as operational funds.

She nodded resolutely and closed the bag.

***

Sentinel Knight Order Office.

I picked up a document sitting on the desk. It had arrived from Volska.

[ Maximilian Foundation Support Application ]

[ 0-Year Knight ‘Hannah Usar’ ]

Roughly speaking, it seems a fierce intelligence war is happening under the surface. With anti-Imperialist terrorist activities expected to spike soon, they must be sensing the signs and moving accordingly.

Leon and Hannah were more than trustworthy.

I turned on the terminal.

“Schatz. Have someone wire 5 million dollars to Volska. In cash.”

─Yes. Understood.

For now, I would only provide the funds. I didn’t have the bandwidth to worry about Volska’s affairs right this moment.

Because it was ‘tomorrow’.

Unless there’s an unusual deviation, a terrorist attack will occur tomorrow night at the Royal Opera House.

The day Princess Justine sneaked into the theater alone, evading her escort knights.

And of all days, the terrorist incident happens then, and with Leonard’s help, a romance blooms between them.

─Sir. What should we do about the operation you mentioned before?

To Schatz’s question, I looked at the poster.

「New Production: The Phantom of the Opera」

─Suspicious activity inside the opera house has been detected.

If my prediction is right.

If the Ezenheim orchestrated the meeting between Leonard and Princess Justine to draw her in.

If the most romantic tragedy before my regression had actually been scripted by them—

“……It has to be done.”

─Yes.

Until now, I had pondered it deeply.

Could I, instead of Leonard, win the heart of the Princess? Could I simply save her in that moment and take Leonard’s place?

But…… it didn’t seem like I needed to go that far.

I quietly crumpled the poster in my hand.

…….

──The night at the「Royal Opera House」.

Perhaps because of a new opera debuting after a long time, the street in front was packed with people.

If history remained unchanged, a terrorist attack would occur here tonight.

I moved to the side of the opera house.

The rear entrance I had already scouted. A narrow passage where stagehands came and went moving set pieces.

I already had a staff ID around my neck, wearing work clothes and a beret.

“……Leo.”

Crackle. A cute response came through the earpiece in my ear.

─Woof.

Leo had already infiltrated the interior.

Today’s mission was a two-man team operation with Leo. From this point on, I would treat Leo not as a dog but as a human.

“Move out. Just like I told you.”

─Woof.

After that, I entered the backstage area. The backstage, where staff were bustling about. I was going to observe the situation for a moment, but.

“Hey! You! What are you doing! Take this!”

A cranky-looking middle-aged man shoved a ladder at me.

“……Yes, sir.”

I took it for now.

“Set it up over the⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌re.”

Since I was disguised as a staff member, I had no choice. For the time being, I helped set the stage along with the other workers. Roughly it was, put this here, not there, over here, you asshole, you crazy son of a bitch, don’t you know how to work, you lunatic bastard, you are useless.

“……Is this good enough?”

When I turned around, he had disappeared without a trace.

“Son of a…”

They say opera is noble culture, but apparently, behind the scenes, it’s still pretty savage.

“What are you doing back there! Get out here, you moron!”

A shout came from somewhere. I held back a sigh and stepped back.

Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!

The stage lights went out. The audience seats had quietly filled to capacity.

Ssssssk….

The curtain slowly parted to either side as the show began, and the new opera I had personally imported,「The Phantom of the Opera」, started.

Swooooosh──

A soft spotlight lit up a single point on stage. It was Leonard’s silhouette from behind.

I watched him for a moment, then quietly slipped away. Like a phantom, I moved through the shadows, hiding myself.

***

Beneath the Royal Opera House. A hidden chamber that didn’t exist on any blueprint.

There, a rehearsal was underway—more elaborate and secretive than the opera itself.

“Everything is ready.”

So said ‘Cecilia’, the opera house’s composer and the strategist for this operation.

Before her lay a detailed floor plan of the opera house, with the projected movements of Princess Justine and Leonard for tonight intertwined in red thread.

“……Can we really do it?”

One of the comrades asked with anxious eyes.

They had dared to orchestrate a love affair targeting the Emperor’s own daughter. The moment they were discovered, beheading wouldn’t be enough to atone for the crime.

“Of course we can. Do you know how many times the Princess has come to see Leonard?”

She pointed to the calendar on the wall. Every date of Leonard’s performances was circled in red. Without fail, she attended every show where Leonard played the lead.

“Almost every single time. That noble lady sneaks into the corners of the theater, even avoiding the eyes of her own escorts.”

And was Leonard’s family lacking? Not in the slightest.

A house with a long, venerable tradition and high honor, but slightly modest in scale. The perfect background for a son-in-law who would marry into the imperial family.

“The Princess’s heart has already leaned his way. All we need to do is give her a small ‘nudge’. And tonight, she doesn’t even have her escort.”

The Revolutionary forces. An organization connected through dots.

“We have to do this.”

Each member supports the cause in their own way.

“The Empire is obsessed with war right now. The moment war breaks out, far too many people will die. We need someone from the inside to pull the brakes.”

Princess Justine. She was the Emperor’s only daughter, the future of the Empire.

What if she fell in love with Leonard, a man of open-minded ideals?

“There’s no other way but to win over the Princess. Because we can’t defeat the Empire with swords and guns.”

The most romantic act of political maneuvering.

She pointed to the blueprint. It showed the placement of explosives throughout the building and the positions of the armed revolutionary members who had volunteered for the cause.

Crisis, rescue, and love.

The script was already written. The actors had stepped onto the stage without even knowing their roles, and the lights had been turned on.

Now, all they had to do was move along the predetermined movements, the tragedy would transform into love—like fate.

“Let’s get ready.”

…….

─O song of the night! Embrace me!

「The Phantom of the Opera」, which had achieved great success in the Western Republic of Prozen.

Thanks to Maximilian’s help, the opera had debuted in the Empire, and Leonard’s voice swept through the hearts of the audience.

─I am a man who cannot look upon you.

The opera he had truly wanted to perform all this time. Leonard poured out his voice as if releasing every pent-up frustration. Noble, commoner, bourgeois alike, all were immersed into him.

─Lowly and insignificant, a man who cannot even approach you.

Having become the Phantom of the Opera, he sang with half his face hidden behind a mask, his resonant voice filling the entire theat⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌er.

─Let me become your music!

The moment Leonard, lost in the performance, stretched out his hand and grasped at the air—

Crack, crack.

A faint fracture rippled through the audience seats.

It started on the third floor, in the general seating area.

A small gap, or perhaps the sound of a bolt coming loose.

Crrrrrk—

The vibrations grew steadily louder.

The unrest soon spread to the second floor, and before long, it reached the VIP section on the first floor.

“……What’s going on?”

“Which uncouth commoner…”

The nobles frowned and turned around, eyes flashing with scorn, ready to rebuke the unrefined fools causing a stir during the sacred opera.

But the disturbance didn’t stop. Instead, it surged like a wave, unsettling even the performers on stage.

And finally.

CRACK─!

A thunderous crash as something broke apart.

─…….

Leonard’s song was cut off. The orchestra’s melody ceased as well.

And immediately after, an explosion erupted.

KABOOOOOM──!

The ceiling of the opera house warped and collapsed, raining debris, and the pillars of the stage collapsed.

BOOOOOM──!

The audience fell into chaos. Screams, explosives, embers, and smoke all mixed and surged upward.

RATATATATAT!

Gunfire of unknown origin rained down into the air, throwing the area into panic.

“This way! Hurry!”

Leonard and the staff shouted as they pointed to the emergency exits, but his focus was solely fixed on one place.

“…….”

Leonard had already pinpointed the princess’s location. The opera house’s ticket booth clerk had arranged things in advance. Hidden inside the paper wristband worn by each attendee was a miniature clockwork device.

A mechanical resonance device that signaled location through subtle vibrations. Since it used no Mana, it was something no one would detect.

Buzzz.

A vibration ran through the receiver on Leonard’s wrist.

Without hesitation, he changed direction.

KABOOOOOM──!

The bomb detonated at the predetermined location. A blast echoed, and smoke billowed into the air.

Beyond the thick haze, he saw the silhouette of a woman draped in a robe, walking toward the corridor behind the stage.

───!

As scripted, the second explosion happened.

The overhead lights came crashing down.

The timing was perfect.

“Hup!”

Leonard sprinted with all his might. He dove through the falling debris.

He rolled across the floor, shielding the princess in his arms.

“……Are you all right?!”

He didn’t even check who she was. He didn’t try to see. Her face was hidden beneath the robe anyway.

For now, all he had to do was play his part, saving a person in danger.

BOOM──! KABOOOOOM────!

The explosions continued with even greater intensity.

“This way! I know a safe route!”

Leonard grabbed her wrist and led her.

Toward the prearranged escape route. To the place where his comrades would be waiting. Where destiny was meant to bloom.

─T⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌ap.

The backstage area of the theater.

At the end of the corridor, however, Leonard’s legs suddenly froze.

“…….”

Leonard instinctively stepped back.

An eerie chill crawled up his spine.

──Thud

Someone was walking out from the darkness.

──Thud

It was not a comrade. Nor a staff member. Nor a guard.

Two bloodshot eyes. A man dragging a bloodied axe, oozing killing intent from every inch of his body.

An unscripted entrance.

Leonard’s instincts were screaming.

If that man caught him, he would die.

***

The Royal Opera House. Explosions going off in every direction, debris flying, people evacuating in breathless panic, a scene of utter pandemonium.

Countless gunshots rang from somewhere, yet no one was actually dying. There were victims caught up in the chaos, but that itself was not the purpose.

I thought to myself.

If this entire incident was a script the enemy had written, I couldn’t dance to their tune. I must not.

Therefore, I had to make the situation more fair.

I decided to flip the board entirely.

The surest way to ruin a fake play was to unleash the real thing.

In the Empire’s underbelly, there are plenty of people who’ll do anything for money. The lunatics of the underworld.

I hired them to infiltrate this opera house, with the objective of assassinating Leonard and escalating the terror.

Instead of actors putting on a performance, I had summoned real killers.

─Woof!

Leo’s voice came through the earpiece.

“……You found her.”

─Woof.

Leo had located the princess.

I turned my gaze in that direction.

“Stand by.”

The way I saw it, those people were underestimating life.

Life is not some play.

Its true nature is chaos.

It is not something to be taken for granted, but the most crucial value that humanity must desperately cling to with everything it has.

“Let’s go…….”

From this moment on, we step onto the real stage.