I Don’t Need a Guillotine for My Revolution

Chapter 175: 175. Krafte War - City of Gunfire (6)

Episode 175. The Krafte War - City of Fire (6)

Gilles de Lionel ran across the rooftops of the deserted Barua city district on a dark night.

It might have been different if it were a military camp set up in an open field, but this was a major city whose entire population had been evacuated.

With most of the main forces deployed at the front, it wasn't too difficult to use the cover of darkness to escape.

No, he slowly shook his head.

This was probably a unilateral decision by Damien De Millbeau.

He must have wanted to claim some achievement. If it had been Marquis Lafayette, he would have set up a more meticulous siege.

Even if not, had the opponent been Marquis Lafayette… the man who defeated his father, a renowned Knight, he would not have escaped so easily.

After running at full speed for some time, he glanced back at the central district where the command post was located.

The district, which had grown a little noisy, had soon fallen silent again.Gilles slowly caught his breath, inhaling the tepid air of the quiet summer night.

His eyes, enhanced by Mana, could easily spot the few soldiers on guard duty, holding small torches.

No matter how he looked at it, it was no more than a level of vigilance against a possible night raid, rather than a city-wide search.

The Krafte Army had ceased their offensive around evening; seeing how quiet it has been, it was reasonable to assume they were preparing for an All-Out Offensive the next day.

It seemed Marquis Lafayette, upon receiving a report about him, had judged it better for the soldiers to get enough rest for the next day's battle rather than lose sleep trying to catch one spy.

Gilles de Lionel let out a self-deprecating laugh.

He was probably only that much.

A variable of no great importance, one that could be ignored.

The forgotten heir of a house that had fallen long ago. A being who, by now, probably didn't even hold a significant place in Pierre de Lafayette's life.

He had opposed his father's actions in inciting the rebellion in the southwest.

He had argued that they should instead submit to them.

-My son. We have lost too many loyal men under the banner of Lionel during that long Civil War. For what did they fall to protect?

His father could not accept his counsel.

-If we forsake their loyalty, their honor, and the Fief passed down from our ancestors, and only save our own lives, what is left in that life? I cannot do that.

And yet, he did not command him to fall with Lionel.

-However, one man is enough to protect the honor of Lionel with his death. …And one man is enough to carry on the name of Lionel. Go, go and survive, and continue the family line.

He left his house like that, but life in the world was not easy. For him, who had grown up as the heir to a wealthy noble house, the vagrant life was a hardship he could have never imagined.

Driven to the brink of starvation, the mercenary work he had once rejected as something an honorable knight would not do soon became his profession.

The thought of carrying on the name of an honorable house quickly faded in the harshness of a life where just surviving was a struggle.

It was only after a year had passed since his father's death that he heard the news, while wandering aimlessly and living by the sword, that his father had been killed in a Duel with Marquis Lafayette.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't angry. He hadn't thought Marquis Lafayette, with whom he had old ties, would lead the subjugation himself.

But what remained was only emptiness. What could he, who had cast aside the pride of an honorable martial family and was living as a fugitive mercenary, possibly do?

He tried to ignore it. He tried to live quietly.

But then that demon-like man with glasses appeared before him and poured oil on the dying embers.

-For someone who has swallowed their emotions due to a lack of power and cloaked themselves in cynicism and detachment, if you give them the power for their just cause, how will they wield it? This side is far more interesting than some childish, moralistic, and boring story.

The Krafte Chancellor, Justin von Wittenfeld.

The one who gave him his identity as Léon Durand and information that could shake Pierre de Lafayette and Christine Aquitaine.

However, after successfully infiltrating Francia, Gilles did not follow his instructions.

Half of it was not by his own choice.

Even if he wanted to, Christine Aquitaine's suspicious eyes, which she had set upon him, never seemed to leave.

Even after he had saved Louis d'Aquitaine's life on several occasions.

And the other half was.

-Now, of all times?

-It's not ‘now, of all times,’ Gilles de Lionel.

Wittenfeld’s whispered voice, accompanied by a smile that seemed more demonic than human, still rings in his ears.

-‘Finally,’ I suppose.

He had been in despair, thinking it had nothing to do with him and that there was no way to touch Pierre de Lafayette, who had become a high-ranking official in revolutionary Francia, but he had actually been waiting for a chance at revenge.

Even after infiltrating Francia with Krafte's power, he ignored it, not wanting to admit it.

He didn't want to be used as a puppet, a disposable pawn moving according to their intentions.

Just in time, Louis d'Aquitaine hired him as expected, and he was able to naturally blend into the Revolutionary Army.

For a time, he acted naturally as a member of the Revolutionary Army and protected Louis d'Aquitaine.

And he watched them.

Louis d'Aquitaine was an absurdly naive and good-natured boy.

Even though he had approached the boy with the intention of betraying him when he was most needed, he was so much so that Gilles was reluctant to harm him directly with such a dirty heart.

Instead, he watched Pierre de Lafayette on the same battlefield.

He'd rather wished he was a traitor who had sided with the revolution just to survive.

He had hoped he was merely continuing the fight to protect his own position, having abandoned his old allies just to survive and become part of the revolutionary establishment.

But Pierre de Lafayette's fight could not be belittled in such a way.

Which of the old regime's nobles had ever put their life on the line for mere soldiers, standing at the vanguard and shedding blood with them?

Who would take the political risk of turning an entire metropolis into a fortress for urban warfare just to spare the blood of their troops?

He could not accept an ending where, after seeing such things with his own eyes, he would belittle Marquis Lafayette as a hypocrite and simply assassinate him.

No, perhaps he had known from the very beginning.

-I wish you luck, Marquis-nim.

-I am grateful for the help Lionel has given. …If by any chance the situation changes and you have a change of heart, I am willing to help, so please tell me anytime.

-I will remember your kind words.

When they parted ways like that, hadn't he acknowledged him as a respectable man, even if they were to be divided by a difference of understanding?

But if he were to admit that. What about his dead father? What about his fallen house?

He couldn't admit it, because if he was right, then Gilles himself would be the one in the wrong.

He thought Pierre de Lafayette should not fall to a simple assassination.

If he were to fall, it should not be by Krafte’s dagger, but by the sins he had accumulated.

He believed he could only prove him wrong if he was repudiated by the very ones he had protected.

He thought Pierre de Lafayette’s sins would be paid for when he was repudiated by the very revolution he had so fiercely protected.

Since there was no one who didn't know by now that Pierre de Lafayette valued Christine Aquitaine more than his own life, he thought Christine's despair at losing her cherished younger brother in the form of betrayal would be the greatest revenge.

But both of them acted differently from his expectations.

Nicolas Brisseau kept his mouth shut. He had come to see Pierre de Lafayette in person and chose to trust Marquis Lafayette, just as he had until now.

And Giselle Davi…

-Even if it seems foolish, even if I can't understand it, it was my sister's choice. That I, who grew up without starving thanks to her, who achieved my dream of becoming an officer thanks to the whim of a noble who hired my sister. You want me to ruin all of that with my own hands and turn my sister's sacrifice into a foolish act? Do you think my sister would have wanted that when she gave her life?

He cannot understand.

No, he must not understand.

-Don't try to use a dead person's intentions by interpreting them to your own convenience.

If he were to understand.

If he did, then what had he been doing all this for.

"Ha..."

Gilles de Lionel covered his face with his hands.

The burning, stinging sensation in his eyes must be nothing more than a side effect of wearing a mask for so long.

What he chose because he didn't want to be a puppet, a disposable pawn moving according to their intentions.

Was in the end, to manipulate others as puppets, hoping they would repudiate Marquis Lafayette, the woman he loved.

-This revenge you cry out for, for a man who is not even dead and did not ask for it, who is it for? That's just a cowardly act of shifting your own aimless anger, that responsibility, onto others. To someone who has even been deprived of the chance to deny it!

Did his father, who had sent him away to survive and continue the family line, who died embracing the family's honor, want revenge?

Why is he here?

Betraying the good-natured boy who trusted and relied on him, being repudiated by the very ones he expected to repudiate his enemy, and now lurking alone in the darkness.

Lost, which path must he choose?

Gilles entered a mansion that had become a desolate husk, its walls torn down during the fortification process after its residents had been evacuated, and leaned his back against a wall.

The ruined interior felt like a perfect reflection of his own mind, and Gilles de Lionel stared up at the pitch-black night sky with bloodshot eyes.

Even in this darkness, the dawn will eventually break.

He, who had failed to prove his enemy's life was wrong, who couldn't even understand why he was here.

What choice must he make in the offensive that will come with the dawn?

*

Unable to sleep, I woke up early and sat on a chair in the dimly lit cathedral.

After some time had passed, the faint light of dawn began to seep through the ceiling, shattered by artillery fire.

The sight of the statue of God, which had been submerged in darkness, slowly revealing itself in the pouring light felt somewhat unreal.

Eris had said that her Divine Power seems to grow the more she uses it when she is with me.

I grow stronger the more I receive Divine Power.

I am related to Divine Power.

Perhaps, my regression.

At this point, is it right to believe that my regression is related to God's will?

The Saintess who denied God, Eris, said she felt she should at least thank God.

And yet, I have no desire to offer a prayer before God like Eris.

I saw the corruption and depravity of the Holy Theocracy.

I remember that they, who should have embraced the believers and protected the Saintess with God's blessing more than anyone, branded Eris a witch and executed her.

Is it God's will that I correct that?

But if so, why me, of all people, and not Eris?

What on earth is God's will?

A demonic Succubus uses Divine Power as powerfully as a Saintess.

And I, who am said to have regressed through Divine Power, have stained my hands with blood to get here, put the person I love in more danger, and am fighting a war that will drive tens of thousands more to their deaths.

And, I am facing the consequences of my past actions.

As I let out a small sigh, a familiar voice reached me.

"Oh. Marquis-nim, what brings you here?"

I let out a hollow laugh and turned my head.

"I told you to get some good rest, Your Majesty."

"I just went to bed early and woke up early. See, the dawn is breaking."

"…So it is."

I muttered blankly, looking up at the bright light that was now streaming through the hole in the ceiling.

"Are you troubled?"

"…A little?"

I had heard about Léon Durand from Christine. Christine had even placed him under sufficient surveillance.

He had protected Louis several times in the war against Krafte for months now, and his performance was decent enough, so I was feeling somewhat at ease.

I never imagined he would reveal his true colors during the siege of a city district where Christine's contact couldn't reach.

And to think that was Gilles de Lionel.

"Should I have captured him, even if I had to force it?"

"No, he's not a clumsy fellow to that extent."

I had barely won the duel against Leo de Lionel, the previous Count Lionel.

Considering he was the heir his father acknowledged and had made a name for himself in the Civil War, there's no guarantee we would've caught him even if we exhausted the troops.

With Krafte's All-Out Offensive clearly imminent, it was more important to let the soldiers rest a little more comfortably.

-The lands and honor of Lionel are with me, so the seed of Lionel is with that child...

No, perhaps.

-That child, at least, could you pretend not to know?

Maybe he was hoping he would quietly slip away in the chaos of war.

"...Actually, I was quite surprised. Well, back then I was just in a position to be sponsored, so I have nothing to say about you not telling me."

At Eris's voice, I replied with a bitter smile.

"I am sorry, Your Majesty."

"...No, if The One in question is fine with it, I have no right to say anything."

The One.

I recalled my private meeting with Giselle Davi after I had sufficiently scared Damien De Millbeau, who was trembling in fear of being punished, and sent him away.

-Do not worry, Your Excellency the Marquis Lafayette. I will never testify or speak about Ellen Davi's matter.

-…Why? A competent person like you should fully understand the value of that information. There are many political enemies who would be ecstatic to learn that I, who was furious at those who tried to assassinate Countess Aquitaine and slaughtered them, had done such a thing before. ...I would understand if you were disappointed by my hypocritical side.

-Jean Malo was the most dangerous of the radicals who advocated for the extermination of the entire noble class. I can understand that without his removal, it would have been impossible for you and Countess Aquitaine to form an alliance with The Republic. …Rather, I am amazed at your tactical prowess in being able to eliminate a key figure of The Republic from that point on without your backer being discovered.

-...No, wait a minute. That's your sister's business, is it alright for you to talk like that?

At my dumbfounded words, Giselle Davi replied with a bitter smile.

-Privately, Jean Malo was the enemy of my parents, and it was my sister's choice. The fact that I am in this position alone makes it clear that Countess Aquitaine has faithfully fulfilled her deal with my sister. …Or do you, Your Excellency the Marquis, also think that my sister, a mere commoner, was not making a deal with Countess Aquitaine, but was simply being used?

-...No, that's not it. I'm sorry.

-I have seen how you lead the Revolutionary Army, Marquis Lafayette. And I have judged that your contribution to the Revolutionary Army is far greater than the problems you have. Therefore, as a staff officer of the Revolutionary Army, I have decided to remain silent on this matter. Is there a problem?

Unable to offer any rebuttal, I had thanked Giselle Davi and ordered her to rest.

…A bitter smile spreads on its own.

"...Indeed. Everyone overestimates me."

Nicolas Brisseau, and Giselle Davi too.

These people, who haven't even spoken with me that much, cover for my weaknesses, which are as numerous as the sins I've piled up to get here, and tell me I must lead the Revolutionary Army.

…Even Eris, right before my eyes, her violet eyes shining as if she trusts me.

Me, who has only come this far by treading on the lesser evil to avoid the worst.

Eris smiled gently and opened her mouth.

"Coming all this way, are you suddenly getting anxious?"

"Well, it's just. I thought I was doing my best, but now that I'm facing the consequences of my actions, I feel weak."

…Right now, in this destroyed city district alone, I can't even count how many bodies are piled up because I couldn't make a more perfect decision.

"Hmm-"

Eris looked at me and hesitated for a moment, then laughed sheepishly.

"This is difficult. Even with a name like Saintess-Queen, I don't know what advice to give you. Right now, even saying 'I believe in you' feels like it would just be a burden."

"Don't push yourself too hard. You may be a Saintess-Queen and all, but you're still young."

"What was that, treating me like a kid! I'm already 24!"

Oh, is that so.

Sorry, but this one here is over 50 if you include his previous life, yet he's just a weak, illiterate fool in the face of life.

As I was giving a bitter smile, Eris spoke again.

"But, I've changed a lot. It's nothing to brag about, but don't you think I'm a bit better compared to when I first met you, Marquis-nim?"

"Ah, yes. Our Saintess has developed enough patience not to run to the infirmary and use up all her mana right this instant."

Eris giggled.

"It's the same for you, Marquis-nim. In my eyes, you've gotten quite a bit better too."

"...Is that so?"

"Actually, you've improved a little, but it's Christine-unni who's become almost unrecognizable. …Thanks to whom?"

Eris asked playfully, and I gave a bitter smile.

Right, then I can't just sit around here.

I slowly rose to my feet, and as if on cue, the sound of cannon fire echoed from the distance.

"...It's starting. Shall we go, Your Majesty."

"Yes, Marquis Lafayette. Let's go together, as always. …As we go, we'll get even better than we are now, right? And if we do, well-"

Eris glanced at the statue of God, which remained desolately in the cathedral with its ceiling blown off by the bombardment, and smiled.

"Don't you think a day will come when the two of us can genuinely thank God with a peaceful heart?"

I grasped the sword at my waist and replied.

"…I'd like that."