I Don’t Need a Guillotine for My Revolution

Chapter 144: Krafte War - The Return

After reorganizing, around the end of spring,

We departed from Iberica with a grand farewell ceremony at Port Harbor, which now belonged to the Iberian Brotherhood.

Everyone seemed incredibly pleased to be leaving the Iberian Peninsula before summer arrived.

Last summer, everyone had been horrified by the god-awful heat, and so many had collapsed from heatstroke that it became a real problem.

As I stood on deck, watching the people of Iberica wave at our departing ships, Ludovic Dureng, the captain of the Libre, whom I hadn't seen in a long time, spoke jokingly.

“Haha, it seems Iberica was quite something. Everyone’s skin color has changed.”

“The weather is quite a bit different from Francia. Were you surprised?”

When I replied with a smirk, Dureng nodded and said,

“Yes, I was quite surprised that everyone’s skin has become so bronze. I thought I was taking for Iberians, not Francians, haha!”

I suppose so.As a result of fighting hard under the scorching Iberian sun, all of us had developed quite a tan, though not quite as dark as Shandra.

“Skin color doesn’t mean much. Ah, but unlike Bilbao, it was nice to be able to board at the large Port Harbor and properly show off the Francian fleet. Everyone was amazed.”

It was true. Compared to the narrow port of Bilbao, where the ships had to take turns coming and going, Port Harbor was large enough for the entire Francian fleet to dock.

Including the massive flagship, the Libre, there were five ships-of-the-line, and dozens of frigates and sloops that accompanied them as escorts.

Having brought more than half of Francia’s navy to withdraw the Iberian expeditionary force, we seemed to have made quite a deep impression on the Brothers of Iberica, who still lacked a proper navy.

Even Kroxx, who usually just laughed heartily at everything, had his jaw drop, his eyes filled with envy. That said it all.

“By the way, the Libre’s exterior seems to have changed a bit? It's a new ship, has it already been refitted?”

At that time, I had no idea.

That I should never have brought up this topic.

The good-natured Captain Ludovic Dureng’s eyes shone strangely at my words, and as if he had been waiting, he began to speak at an incredible speed.

“As expected of Marquis Lafayette! The eye and insight of the Army's Commander-in-Chief are second to none! I was just feeling secretly disappointed, wondering if no one in the army would notice this magnificent change!

You saw correctly! A major improvement has been made to the pride of the Francian Navy, the flagship of Her Excellency Admiral Aquitaine, the Libre! This is none other than the achievement of Her Excellency Admiral Aquitaine, who has been promoting exchange with the Magic Kingdom of Holland, not only has the Libre been fitted with a magitek engine capable of generating a barrier to protect the hull, but during naval battles, it can now use mana to accelerate even further for agile combat maneuvers! And if that were all, it would be a shame! The 86 cannons have also been fitted with mana-assisting devices to-”

…To be honest, I couldn't understand half of what he was saying.

But the captain, regardless of whether I understood him, was too busy holding onto me and enthusiastically boasting about the Libre’s incredible performance. Despite my desperate wishes, Christine, who could have detached him from me, never appeared on the deck.

*

Dureng’s boasting about the Libre finally stopped after he had been talking for about two hours, just as my soul was about to leave my body.

To be precise, he had intended to continue, but the helmsman dragged him away, liberating me.

…I should get that fellow a gift later.

I somehow dragged my dazed mind and queasy body toward the admiral's cabin.

“It's me, Christine.”

Only after knocking did I hear the voice I had longed to hear so much.

“Come in.”

When I opened the door and entered, Christine was sitting at her desk, preoccupied with a stack of documents.

…She barely glanced at my face before her eyes returned to the documents.

Come to think of it, earlier, when she briefly came ashore to exchange greetings with Kroxx, she had only given me a few glances.

We were finally meeting after over a year, and for Christine of all people to act like this toward me.

Feeling secretly disappointed, I approached her desk, and Christine opened her mouth.

“It’s been a while. I’m glad you seem to be safe, Pierre.”

“Indeed. It has been a while, Christine.”

As I replied, Christine tapped the documents into a neat pile and handed them to me.

“This is a summary report on the political issues that have occurred in Lumiere, and a report on the diplomatic achievements of Director-General Talleyrand in the Eastern Empire.”

“Ah, thank you.”

I quickly skimmed the documents Christine handed me.

Passage of the universal conscription system's expansion.

Under the command of acting Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Army, Louis Desaix, a total of 240,000 reserve soldiers had completed their basic military training.

…It seems we’ve somehow secured the basic number of troops to fight against Krafte.

At this rate, we might lack in quality, but at least we won't be outnumbered.

Talleyrand had been a masterpiece. I don't know what he did, but he stayed in the Eastern Empire for nearly half a year and reportedly received the title of honorary baron from the Tsar.

Perhaps thanks to Talleyrand's efforts, the Tsar of the Eastern Empire, who had initially responded with the absurd demand that we pay tribute, now recognized Francia as a friendly nation, and trade had begun.

At this rate, acquiring their cannon technology, which I had ordered half-jokingly, might not be a dream after all.

Talleyrand is truly amazing. Should I call our contest a draw this time?

The report was also packed with miscellaneous political matters, but honestly, they didn't really catch my eye.

“…Um, Christine?”

“Yes, Pierre.”

“…Is this all?”

Christine lifted her gaze from her document, looked at me with her clear eyes, blinked slowly, and opened her mouth.

“Ah.”

She then took out a pouch and handed me a pill.

What's this, could it be a contraceptive again? Not that I would mind…

But for that, Christine's expression was too placid, so I was a bit flustered. I took it and swallowed it anyway.

And yet, Christine simply returned to her paperwork afterward.

At this point, I felt stubborn.

“…Christine?”

“Yes, Pierre.”

“What did you just give me?”

“Seasickness medicine.”

“…”

As I stood there, lost for words, Christine gently lifted her head, looked at me, and said,

“I heard you get very seasick, so I ordered some from Holland to be made. The clinical trial results were said to be quite good.”

“I-is that so… Thank… you.”

This…

I should be grateful.

I felt I should be grateful, but I couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment.

Christine must have noticed my mood, as she tilted her head slightly and asked with an innocent face.

“…What did you think it was?”

This, this was.

Intentional. It must be intentional.

I immediately wrapped my arms around Christine’s shoulders and my lips—

…moved as if to press them against hers, then stopped right in front of her nose and waited silently.

Seeing Christine, who had squeezed her eyes shut, get tired of waiting and tentatively open one eye to look at me, I felt like bursting out laughing.

Still, I managed to hold it in and stared at her with a feigned angry expression. Christine opened her mouth.

“…Aren’t you going to do it?”

“Did you want me to?”

“…”

Christine’s placid expression vanished. Her face slightly flushed, she darted her eyes back and forth, then turned her head slightly to avoid my gaze and said,

“…Come to think of it, you’re always so composed, while I seem to be the only one pining away, so I was feeling a little pett—Mph!”

The kiss was long enough to satisfy the deep yearning.

I greedily devoured her breath, and as soon as we parted, I hugged the gasping Christine—

“It seems I was wrong. I was very wrong.”

As I whispered, Christine's shoulders trembled.

“Let me show you with all my heart and soul just how much I've been yearning. …So that you’ll never feel that way again.”

There was plenty of time until we reached Francia.

*

The Magic Tower in the Magic Kingdom of Holland.

Louis d'Aquitaine, now 16, was riding in a carriage bound for Francia.

Dressed in a splendid mage's robe, Louis wore a badge on his chest that he had received from the Magic Tower.

A badge certifying his graduation from the Tower's preliminary course.

Proof that his efforts, spanning over five years since leaving Francia at age 11, had been recognized.

A result achieved not as Louis of Aquitaine or the son of Yvonne, but through Louis's own effort.

Feeling a sense of pride welling up in his chest, Louis recalled the conversation he had with the old Tower Master before leaving.

-Are you really planning to return to Francia? I highly value your effort and tenacity in graduating from the preliminary course early, but as a mage, you still have a long way to go. It is a great pity to simply let a promising student like you go.

-Thank you for your high praise, Tower Master. It is an honor to simply receive such an undeserving compliment from one called a sage. But now that I have become a proper mage in my own right, I cannot turn a blind eye to my motherland's war.

-What value is there in such a vulgar war between nations? You must know the precedent of the ‘Storm Witch.’ Your talent is wasted. Had you walked the path of magic a little earlier, you could have achieved much greater things, yet you want to leave instead of striving for more. Tsk, tsk…

-Hahaha…

-So, are you going to help your half-sister?

-…Yes.

-Having seen how your sister has helped you in ways both seen and unseen, I know that your relationship is quite different from what the world says. But even so, to throw away the freedom you finally found and your bright future to crawl back to a place full of people who will hate you, you’re not normal either.

-I suppose I am an Aquitaine, after all, Tower Master.

-Hmph, tsk. Fine, go, go. I can already picture the kids who followed you around being disappointed that you’re leaving. What's the use of being so handsome and talented if the thoughts in your head aren't normal?

-Haha, I apologize, Tower Master. I will take my leave now. …For everything, thank you.

Louis let out a small laugh, recalling the grumpy Tower Master waving his hand as if to shoo him away.

He, too, was a little sad to be leaving the Magic Tower so soon, which had given him freedom from his suffocating childhood.

However, Louis d'Aquitaine knew full well from whose goodwill that freedom, which should have been impossible, had stemmed.

Even if he had a talent for magic, the Magic Tower would never have accepted him at an age already considered late for entry if not for his sister’s donations.

His close friends at the Magic Tower all tried to dissuade him, saying he was crazy to return to his half-sister, but if one wears the guise of a human, isn't it only right to repay one’s debts?

At the very least, Louis did not want to become like his dead mother.

As he was lost in such thoughts.

Thwack—

He heard a sound.

“Huh?”

While Louis was startled, the carriage, which had been following the road properly, began to run wild.

“H-Hey, driver! What’s going—Huk!”

Peeking into the driver's seat, Louis saw the driver, an arrow sticking out of his neck, slump to the ground.

And he saw the panicked, bolting horses dragging the carriage down a hill.

“G-good heavens!”

A tremendous noise and impact engulfed Louis.

*

“Ugh, uuuugh…”

Louis staggered to his feet from the wreckage of the mangled and shattered carriage.

He immediately deployed a mana barrier, blocking the arrows that flew toward him.

“Hah, hah… Who are you people!”

There was no answer.

The mysterious figures dressed in black drew their swords.

'Damn it…!'

Was it a mistake to choose the land route instead of the sea simply to avoid the Aquitaine Merchant Guild?

Who sent them?

There were so many possibilities that he couldn't even guess.

Many people held a grudge against his sister.

Conversely, there were also those who, out of loyalty to his sister, would want to eliminate Louis.

…Or, perhaps.

His sister had had a change of heart.

Just as Louis clenched his teeth and gathered his mana.

A man leaped down from the hill and cut down an assassin rushing toward Louis in a single strike.

“Eh, eh?”

While Louis was stunned, the man parried another assassin's sword, sending it flying, then turned to look at Louis and grinned.

“Well, you seem to be in a predicament, nameless mage-nim.”

“Wh-who are you?”

“A passing mercenary. Depending on how you play your cards, mage-nim, I could become your mercenary.”

Even as he spoke, the man blocked the assassins' attacks with flawless skill and made a circle with his fingers.

“Interested? I’m a bit expensive, but if you have the money, I get the job done right.”

A roguish outfit and way of speaking befitting a mercenary.

However, Louis sensed a subtly noble air about him.

His hesitation was brief.

“You’re hired! I am Louis d'Aquitaine, the second son of the Aquitaine family! I have plenty of money!”

“Oh—Aquitaine. Aquitaine is a sure credit. Well, well, a big fish. I’ve been striking out lately, so what luck to find you here?”

The man, who had been merely blocking attacks, instantly switched, cutting down a rushing assassin and grinning.

“Alright then, we have a deal! Don’t you go back on your word later!”