I Don’t Need a Guillotine for My Revolution

Chapter 222: Abyssal Holy War - The Longest Week (4)

Episode 222. Abyssal Holy War - The Longest Week (4)

A raid would occur during the patrol.

I had sent Vachet on a ridiculous whim, claiming it was just my gut feeling, but Damien De Millbeau's reaction surpassed all imagination.

He had rushed over to me, out of breath, asking about drastic measures.

"Shouldn't we wake the Imperial Army and the Krafte Army and take them all with us?"

"What? You want to wake the men who just finished their patrol and are about to rest?"

"B-but you said a raid is coming..."

What's with this guy? Just yesterday he was spouting all sorts of pessimism, saying we were all going to die.

He seems to have suddenly found his motivation, and he trusts me so readily it’s suspicious, which makes it even stranger.

"...You believe that with no evidence?"I asked, completely baffled, and Damien nodded with a very serious expression as he replied.

"I, the humble Damien De Millbeau, have finally realized it! Usually, when His Excellency the Marquis says something my head can't comprehend, His Excellency the Marquis turns out to be right! So this time, too, His Excellency the Marquis had a plan for everything, didn't you?"

"..."

No, I didn't.

I almost answered that way.

What kind of bizarre faith is this?

My expression turned strange, but Damien struck his chest with his fist and said.

"Entrust me with any mission, Your Excellency, Marquis Lafayette! To survive the worst-case scenario, one must first empty their brain and follow Your Excellency—ah, no. Anyway! I trust His Excellency the Marquis!"

I slowly brought a hand to my forehead.

Ah, right. Let's think positively.

If he had vehemently opposed me, saying it was absurd, that would have been a bigger headache. If the guy who was trembling in fear now has hope and motivation, that's not a bad thing either...

"Good. I'll give orders along the way, so handle them flawlessly. The Imperial Army and the Krafte Army... let them rest for now. If we tell them to go out again without any grounds, they'll just erupt with complaints."

Damien De Millbeau nodded enthusiastically, then clenched his fists and shouted.

"To think their faith in His Excellency, Marquis Lafayette, is still lacking, what a bunch of fools! They won't come to their senses until they've been had about three times!"

No, honestly, I wish he'd stop, since he's the one who looks more foolish...

*

The Germania Imperial Army and the Krafte Kingdom Army, having returned from their patrol, took their rest, leaving only a minimal guard. The prepared Francia Revolutionary Army, the Iberian Brotherhood, and the Paladin Order then rotated in and marched out for their patrol.

The soldiers patrolled through the dense fog, their faces filled with tension.

Damien De Millbeau, with his suspiciously strong faith in me, would follow my orders regardless, and Giselle Davi would likely cover any shortcomings.

There's also Nicolas Nere, who will show his valor even in a sudden situation.

When I hinted at it to Kroxx, he agreed, albeit with a skeptical face. The Iberian Brotherhood gives Kroxx their absolute obedience, so it should work out somehow.

The problem is the Paladin Order...

I did inform Alejandro, but he persistently asked for evidence, and I had a hard time changing the subject.

What could I say?

That the Saintess from 400 years ago, whom your Paladin Order reveres so much, is actually a Succubus, and she appeared in my dream to tell me?

I'd be lucky if they didn't try to burn the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces at the stake for being a heretic.

Anyway, setting aside the Revolutionary Army and the Brotherhood, who already have a high level of trust in me, it's quite difficult to earn the faith of the Paladin Order.

I hope this doesn't become a variable...

As I patrolled under a sky shrouded in a purple mist, I stared at the nearby map, which had been more or less completed through several reconnaissance and patrol missions.

Though it should have been bright daylight, the gloomy purple light filtering through the fog-covered sky made even the map look utterly ominous.

The materials have been gathered.

Even the demons cannot see through the fog.

However, they are peering into the dreams and subconscious of the Allied Forces through the succubi, and using that to counter us.

In other words, my warning that a raid was highly likely during this patrol would have also been transmitted to Paimon through the succubi.

So, will he not come?

Judging by the tactics Paimon has employed so far, his intention is clearly to weaken the solidarity of the Allied Forces.

If this turns out to be a wild goose chase, the suspicion against me will grow, and the Allied Forces' solidarity will be shaken even further.

Nevertheless, I am certain that Paimon will come.

It's been over a day since the rocket bombardment stopped, and during that time, our soldiers have been getting at least some rest, recovering from their worst condition.

Shaking my authority might be fine for him, but all the while, the gate is being constructed. More importantly, Paimon must have been observing the previous two patrols to gather information and prepare for this raid.

They must not yet be certain that we've figured out the information leak through the succubi, so the grounds for them to call off their offensive based on my order alone are far too weak.

Above all, if he is the demon I know.

I frowned, recalling Paimon's face, filled with madness.

He is not the type to avoid a decisive fight.

Since I defeated him head-on, he will try to repay me head-on.

More than anything, I have a premonition that he will want to face me himself.

If such a moment exists, this patrol, with me out in the open, is the only opportunity, not when I'm in the innermost headquarters during the gate's defense.

So, that bastard will definitely come.

And, if he comes...

I studied the terrain map drawn from the numerous patrols.

Our patrol route has surely been leaked to the enemy.

And if the enemies know our entire patrol route, and even know when we're coming.

Considering the information Paimon has on our side, and the weapons they possess.

Then it's not difficult to deduce the optimal location for a surprise ambush.

"Major Vachet."

"Yes, sir! Your Excellency the Marquis!"

"Relay this to all patrol units. All units will halt one kilometer short of Point B and prepare for battle."

"Uh, yes sir? At this rate, it won't even take ten minutes. It will take time to relay the orders, so wouldn't it be fine to just proceed to the destination, Point B?"

"Just go and relay it. It's urgent."

"Ah, understood!"

I watched Major Vachet rush off to give instructions to the messengers, then shifted my gaze back to the map.

If information is being transmitted via succubi, there's a risk that information from the moment we sallied forth, or even during the march, could be leaked.

However, Divine Power swirls around my body, so unless it's a completely exceptional case like Gremory, it would be difficult for them to infiltrate me carelessly.

That being said, if I'm the only one thinking about it until just before we reach the destination, will they be able to react in real-time to an order given at the last minute?

Now, this is a battle of deception, with each side having shown some of their cards.

Let's see if Paimon takes the bait.

*

"No, Marquis! No matter the reason, isn't it strange to suddenly change the plan without any prior discussion?"

"It was unavoidable due to the unique nature of the situation, Commander Alejandro."

"I cannot comprehend what you mean by that. The Paladin Order must absolutely—"

The chattering Alejandro fell silent.

And I, too, immediately identified the cause that had silenced him.

Whizzz-

Wheee-

The culprit that had robbed us of our sleep, the terrible noise of rockets flying through the fog.

Amidst the shouts erupting from all over and the unit's panic—those rockets produced a series of explosions in the front, where we would have been headed.

"...Now you understand. All units, to battle stations!"

"Uh, uh, y-yes, sir!"

The rockets have a very long range and an unstable trajectory.

It's a weapon incapable of precision strikes in the fog.

To avoid friendly fire while bombarding from a safe distance in the fog, their only means is to launch a surprise rocket attack on the spot we were to arrive at, timed to our arrival.

So far, I was right.

"All Artillery Corps, prepare to fire! Light Infantry, forward! Secure our field of vision!"

"Yes, Sir! Commander, Your Excellency!"

"Iberian Brotherhood, prepare for a rear attack! The Drones' movements are unimpeded by the fog, so respond cautiously to any attack from the rear!"

"Understood, brother!"

Along with Kroxx's booming reply, their unique battle cry echoed in response—

"Line Infantry, follow me!"

"All Artillery Corps, prepare to fire! Target, the epicenter of the explosions ahead!"

As the unit led by Nicolas Nere moved forward, and Damien screamed the order to prepare for bombardment.

Thud-

A familiar footstep is heard. A mechanical, crude, and bizarrely rhythmic footstep that no human army could produce.

Thud-

"Drone approach confirmed!"

"All Artillery Corps, fire!"

"Unleash a volley! Turn them all to dust!"

The cannons, already prepared to fire, let loose all at once. The round shots from the direct-fire cannons and explosive shells from the howitzers flew frantically toward the location where the rocket bombardment had just landed.

The rhythmic footsteps were soon buried under the noise of the shelling from the Artillery Corps, and as the explosive shells from the howitzers detonated, the fog began to disperse little by little.

"Don't stop firing! Light Infantry, prepare for their approach! Line Infantry, widen your formation so you don't block the Light Infantry's path of retreat!"

"Understood!"

And when I looked again, the Drones had begun to charge ferociously.

"Light Infantry, open fire!"

Rat-a-tat-tat-

As the Light Infantry's muskets fired in unison, the Drones charging at the front dropped one by one—and while the skirmishers took down the remaining Drones with aimed shots, explosive shells from the howitzers detonated on the ground, mangling four or five Drones at a time.

"Direct-fire cannons, switch to grapeshot!"

"Beginning shell replacement!"

"The enemy will start correcting their rocket aim soon! Prepare for impact!"

"Y-yes, sir!"

As the Light Infantry fired again and immediately ran back, slipping between the ranks of the Line Infantry who had already widened their formation.

"Fire grapeshot!"

The cannons unleashed a volley of grapeshot, shattering the Drones that were chasing them.

"Your Excellency, Marquis Lafayette, the Drones' attack has begun in the rear! King Kroxx is fighting them!"

"Good, I'll trust him with the rear. Tell them to request support immediately if needed!"

"Yes, sir!"

I clenched my fists tightly.

So far, so good.

At least, operationally, things are proceeding according to my judgment.

The enemy, who utilized their strengths of rocket launchers and Drones to the fullest, began the battle not with the advantage of a surprise attack, but by taking a preemptive strike from us instead.

And now.

Beyond the fog that was slowly dispersing amid the chaos of battle, a swarm of Drones pushed forward, as if to fill the horizon.

In the chaos of relentless shelling pouring down on them, the Line Infantry fired in unison, at the moment of the first clash with the Drones that had finally reached them.

The sound of hooves shaking the ground began to thunder.

I grinned.

In peacetime, they were nothing but a headache, but in this moment, they are the strongest of allies.

"We praise—"

"We acclaim—"

The moment the soldiers' morale soared at the cries of prayer, their symbol, instead of a charge's war cry.

I spotted an extremely familiar silhouette beyond the fog.

Fiery red, long hair.

The beautiful purple dress, and the discord of the white gown worn over it.

Paimon...!

The red demon, as if he were a human noble, gave me a polite bow with an exaggerated gesture.

And, with just that.

"Is... is that Paimon?"

"Ooh, it is the very image of the vile demon recorded in the holy war!"

The Paladin Order recognized the demon who had lived for a very long time in an instant.

"That is the demons' leader! Paladin Order, strike him down!"

Simultaneous with Alejandro's shout, the Paladin Order began to charge not at the Drones clashing with our allies, but at Paimon.

"Paladin Order! Do not change your target rashly!"

I gathered as much mana as I could and shouted, but it did not reach the Paladin Order, who had already surrendered themselves to the heat of fanaticism and their charge.

"Damn it, what are you doing! Vachet, send a messenger! Stop those idiots whose brains are filled with faith right now! Isn't it obvious that it's a trap!"

"Y-yes, sir, Your Excellency, Marquis Lafayette!"

As José Vachet urgently ran off, the wind blew and the fog slowly cleared—and behind Paimon, demons could be seen fixing something made of metal I had never seen before to the ground.

What is that?

A gun... made of metal?

"May the holiness of the Father be upon us—"

"May His grace raise our spearheads high—"

The demons began to slowly turn a cylinder I had never seen before—

"And let us punish those who have fallen—"

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat-

With a horrific gunshot sound that would be forever unforgettable, bullets began to rain down.