novelraw Chapter 120: Revolution Defense War - Krafte (2)
Chapter 120: Revolution Defense War - Krafte (2)
I left the Revolutionary Army in the hands of Desaix and Millbeau and returned to the capital, Lumiere.
I had to prevent Krafte from joining the war, but since their Great King had personally designated me, what choice did I have?
The one who is needed must go.
As Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Army, I couldn't travel through the Empire's land routes during wartime to get to Krafte, so I ultimately had to go by ship from Francia.
To think I'd live to see the day I travel by ship to the northern part of the Empire.
Upon returning to the capital, I heard news I hadn't even considered.
“……Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. So, an admiral? You?”
What, what is this?
I was flustered, but Christine herself, after taking a sip of black tea, coolly nodded and replied calmly.
“That’s how it turned out.”Originally, Francia's navy was based in Bretagne, where the largest naval port was located.
The Duke of Bretagne died fighting me during the civil war, and immediately after, the revolution broke out, making the Duchy of Bretagne one of the first regions swept up in the revolution.
In the madness of the early revolution, naval officers and whatnot didn't survive, so Francia's navy was essentially rebuilt from scratch.
That's fine up to that point.
Why did it go to Christine?
“No…… How?”
Christine leisurely took another sip of black tea and replied.
“Who oversaw the warship construction process?”
“……The Aquitaine Merchants, of course.”
“Who has operated the most fleets in this country?”
“……Aquitaine.”
“Among the high-ranking officials of Francia, is there anyone who has sailed as much as I have?”
“……I suppose not.”
“Yes, so I took charge.”
Thinking about it this way, she's so suited for the role it's surprising I didn't think of it sooner…….
Regardless of Christine's abilities, there are more than enough people who would find fault just because she's a young woman in her twenties.
Even within the central party, some older nobles dislike her.
“I doubt the Revolutionary Party or the Liberal Party would have stood idly by. How did you manage that?”
Besides, I'm already the Commander-in-Chief of the Army. If the central party tried to grab the navy as well, they would have foamed at the mouth.
“I had a public mock battle with the personnel they recommended.”
“……”
“The expressions on the faces of the Revolutionary Party and Liberal Party leaders were quite a sight.”
Christine said, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Indeed.
Christine is never lenient with those who bruise her pride.
Those who came out dreaming of becoming naval admirals and were thoroughly humiliated were also unlucky.
I looked at her with complicated feelings.
This…….
“You’re wondering whether to congratulate me or try to stop me.”
“Since when did you learn to read minds?”
Christine smiled brightly and said.
“I’m sorry for making the decision without telling you anything.”
“……No, that’s your business, after all.”
Just as I don't seek her permission for every single thing I do as Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Army, she doesn't need to seek my permission for her affairs.
“Then?”
Christine asked, somehow looking pleased.
……Someone who knows everything already, why bother asking?
“If a naval battle were to occur, I’d want to stop you because you might be in danger, but I don’t have the right to do so.”
I knew Christine possessed considerable military talent.
Even though it was right after her defeat by me, she had overwhelmingly dominated Damien De Millbeau.
Considering that Damien De Millbeau, once put to use, proved to have quite useful abilities, it meant Christine, even by Revolutionary Army standards, was capable of commanding an entire army.
Nevertheless, the reason I didn't involve her in the Revolutionary Army was half because there were other things she could do better, and the other half because I didn't want her exposed to danger on the battlefield.
If it were the army, there are plenty of people besides her who can do well, including myself.
The army, yes.
If it's the navy, I can't substitute for her, and since she has publicly proven herself the most suitable person, as Christine said, trying to stop her here would just be an act of my own selfishness.
I let out a small sigh, composed my expression, and then spoke.
“……I, who always rush to the front lines, risking danger, can’t possibly stop you. Congratulations on becoming Francia’s Admiral of the Navy, Christine.”
Only then did Christine’s eyes crinkle as she smiled.
“Thank you, Pierre. ……You were aware of it, then?”
I subtly avoided her gaze, cleared my throat, and spoke.
“Then, Admiral. What are the arrangements for the ship to Krafte?”
“The 86-gun ship of the line ‘Libre’. I had it built as my flagship, but I’ll lend it to you this time. The Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Army is going on behalf of Francia, so we need to maintain that level of appearances, right? Of course, an escort fleet will accompany you.”
“That’s quite a lavish treatment.”
“It’s best to utilize the assets we have. It also serves as a proper warning to the Northern Allied Kingdom not to get any ideas.”
Visiting Krafte aboard a newly completed, state-of-the-art ship of the line.
“But, am I going alone?”
“Yes. Didn't you hear?”
“I heard, but it’s a bit strange that Talleyrand isn't going.”
“Ah……”
Christine tilted her head slightly and smiled brightly.
“He seems to be sulking.”
“……Sulking? That old man?”
“He went to great lengths to find a self-proclaimed veteran captain ideologically aligned with the Revolutionary Party, prattled on about a navy for the citizens, only to be crushed by me. And, despite being a supposed foreign affairs expert, Krafte refused his visit and specifically requested you.”
So, the gist is.
He wanted the navy for himself, but lost it after being publicly humiliated, and now that foreign affairs, his specialty, has been handed over to me, he's angry and slacking off. Is that it?
“Well, that’s certainly a peculiar old man.”
“He does have a unique sensibility. That's probably why he can befriend dwarves.”
I let out a light sigh.
A visit to Krafte by ship. Including the round trip and stay, it'll easily take a month? And I'm going alone.
Feeling a sense of disappointment, I looked at Christine.
If we go together—
“Do you want to go together?”
Christine asked naturally, and I almost nodded reflexively before putting a hand to my forehead.
Of course, I want to go together.
Now that you've become an Admiral, it's not like there's no pretext, and it would be nice to go on a trip together, just the two of us.
It would be nice, but…….
I suppressed my reluctance and spoke.
“It’s very tempting, but if both of us leave Francia, we won’t be able to respond in an emergency, so it can’t be helped.”
Even if I'm not there, Desaix is, and Berthier is there to assist him.
Millbeau, well. He might not be entirely reliable, but he does his job well enough.
But if Christine also leaves, not only will it be difficult to respond to political developments in the capital, but I can't guarantee that supplies will be managed without a hitch if the Revolutionary Army is engaged.
Hearing my answer, Christine smiled deeply.
“That’s the right answer.”
“Yes?”
“If you’d thoughtlessly suggested going together, I’d have been disappointed, and if you’d firmly told me to stay, I’d have been upset.”
“Haha, that’s a relief then.”
As I smiled and rose to sit beside Christine, she leaned slightly against me.
I have a long journey ahead, so I should spend enough time with her before I leave.
Krafte, well, I can think about that slowly—
As I was thinking that, Christine whispered softly in my ear.
“……You’ll stay the night, won’t you? It’s safe today, so.”
All the thoughts that had filled my head instantly vanished.
*
Northern Germania Empire, Krafte Kingdom.
On the outskirts of the capital, Mittelburg, the palace built and inhabited by Great King Karl II himself.
CEO Baal of Abyss Corporation’s Pride Company and CEO Barbatos of Wrath Company were heading towards the desolate building, surrounded only by a vast training ground.
On that training ground, troops easily numbering in the thousands were lined up, guarding the path they took.
Barbatos, seeing the soldiers moving more like machines than humans, their discipline exceeding mere orderliness, licked her lips with her tongue.
“Comparative assessment with Imperial Army, overwhelming qualitative gap. Want war.”
“Denied, Barbatos.”
Baal and Barbatos, having their usual conversation, entered the building and were guided by an attendant to the room where Cecilia had met the Great King.
“Your Majesty the Great King, the CEOs of Abyss Corporation Pride Company and Wrath Company have arrived.”
The Great King, standing on the balcony with both hands on his cane, looking out the window at the army moving in orderly fashion, filling the training ground, slowly turned around.
“Welcome. Demons. Karl II, Great King of the Krafte Kingdom and Margrave of the Empire, welcomes you.”
“CEO Baal of Abyss Corporation’s ‘Pride’ Company, pays his respects, Great King Karl II of Krafte.”
“CEO Barbatos of Abyss Corporation’s ‘Wrath’ Company, greets you!”
Karl II twisted his lips into a slight smile, and Baal spoke with his characteristic impassive face.
“Our company, as previously informed to Your Highness, intends to provide financial and equipment support should your country wage war against Francia. Your Highness, having accepted this meeting-”
“Shh.”
Before Baal could finish his sentence, the Great King brought a finger to his lips.
As Baal fell silent, Karl II cupped his hand to his ear as if listening, and then asked.
“Do you not hear this sound?”
Baal narrowed his eyes, and Barbatos, turning her head this way and that, spoke.
“What is it? What is it? What sound do you hear?”
The Great King, his white hair prominent, smiled and spoke.
“To me, it sounds like the approach of the greatest and final war of my lifetime.”
“Oh, this CEO also likes war! The Great King seems to like war too!”
Leaving the excited Barbatos to herself, Baal, who had remained silent, spoke.
“Indeed, Great King. As the war with Francia approaches, Our company-”
However, the Great King again raised his hand to interrupt Baal, then turned his back and struck the balcony railing with his cane.
The sound of the cane striking the metal railing echoed.
A few seconds later, cannons roared.
As if waiting for the Great King’s signal, a chain of explosions roared with enough force to seemingly engulf the entire palace.
The cannon fire, erupting sequentially and rhythmically without error, continued for almost 30 seconds.
Long and grandiose enough to drown out Barbatos's excited shouts.
As the Great King, seemingly feeling the rhythm, brandished his cane like a conductor’s baton, the cannon fire ceased with precision, as if stopping at his signal.
The Great King turned back, smiled at the demons, and spoke.
“It is war, demon. The war I have eagerly awaited.”
Baal no longer stated his business.
“Not a trivial war to trample a weak enemy and seize petty interests, but a glorious war against a strong foe, one not shameful to the great name I have built.”
The Great King did not wait for the demon's words either; he slammed the cane he held to the floor and leaned on it with both hands.
The white-haired old man, over 60, smiled haughtily after a movement full of discipline and power.
“My acceptance of your meeting has no other meaning. Demons, do not dare to interfere in this war.”
The Great King, leader of humanity’s most elite army.
“This is my war, and solely my glory. If I am victorious, glory will be added unto me; if I am defeated, the victor will gain the name of humanity’s strongest.”
The living legend of mankind warns the descendants of the Demon King.
“There is no place for demons on that battlefield. If you wish to claim a place in my war……”
The Great King raised his cane, aimed it at Baal, and smiled.
“Will you, demons, dare to test yourselves against me?”
Barbatos thrilled.
“Baal, Baal, Baal! War, war, war, permission for war! This is war! Real war!”
After a cool-headed analysis, Baal concluded.
“……Denied, Barbatos. The anticipated losses exceed a manageable range.”
Hearing Baal's words, the Great King slammed his cane to the floor again and leaned on it.
“If you will not grant me a glorious war, then withdraw as you are.”
Turning his back and heading towards the balcony, he added.
“I shall await the one who will bring a glorious war to this land.”