I Don’t Need a Guillotine for My Revolution

Chapter 231: 231. Abyssal Holy War – Fruit of the Desperate Struggle

231. Abyssal Holy War – The Fruit of a Desperate Struggle

“Ugh…”

Louis d'Aquitaine groaned as he downed the bitter potion.

No matter how many times he drank it, he could never get used to the sticky feeling in his throat or its foul taste.

What was worse was that he would have to drink this like water until the gate was built.

The surprise attack from the underground at dawn had taken down a shocking six of the twenty mages, which meant the burden on the survivors had increased significantly.

“You’re going through a lot, Louis.”

Louis gave an awkward laugh as a hand patted his back and replied.

“Haha, it’s nothing, sister. Everyone is having a hard time.”

He had to show his sister his mature side; he couldn't act like a child who hated a potion just because it was bitter.The moment he thought that.

“You must be so busy, you probably haven’t had a chance to talk much with Davi, have you?”

Louis spat out the potion he was drinking at the casual question his sister threw his way.

“Oh dear, my apologies.”

“Keck, cough. S-Sister, what do you mean.”

Louis turned his head, coughing with teary eyes, but Christine’s face was utterly serene.

“What’s the matter?”

“N-No, I mean.”

It was true that Louis had romantic feelings for Giselle Davi.

But was it so obvious that even his sister knew?

“...”

With wavering eyes, Louis looked into his sister’s calm, deep black eyes.

Come to think of it, it must have been obvious to the people in the army.

And if so, of course his sister would know too.

He had forgotten that the half-sister before him was someone who had her people spread across nearly every imaginable domain.

At first, he’d found her uncomfortable and difficult to approach, a person whose intentions were impossible to fathom, but after overcoming his past trauma, he saw his sister as a rather soft and gentle person.

He had started feeling comfortable around her without even realizing it.

“Well, I don't know what to say…”

What should he say?

‘Despite the opposition of your vassals, you spared my life, sent me to study at the Magic Tower, and raised me well, but now your younger brother has been completely captivated by a commoner woman older than him and has been trailing after her to a dangerous battlefield.’

‘And to make matters worse, that person has a relationship of favor and resentment with the Aquitaine family, and I don't think she even sees me as a potential partner.’

How would this appear to the Countess Aquitaine, the woman who controlled Francia’s economy, led a vast fleet, and was even the head of the Intelligence Department?

No matter how he thought about it, cold sweat just trickled down his spine, and Louis swallowed dryly.

But Christine just narrowed her eyes at Louis and said one thing.

“I think I know what you’re thinking, but whatever it is, that’s not it, Louis.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ve repaid my debt to you, haven’t I?”

“Y-Yes, you have, sister.”

No, if anything, it was he who had to repay his debt to her.

“Then you are wholly Louis d'Aquitaine. Whomever you take an interest in, it is wholly your own business.”

“Is that so…”

Louis had longed to become an adult independent from Christine d'Aquitaine.

Nevertheless, from Louis’s stance, he also believed he had established his own position as the Tower Master's disciple thanks to his half-sister’s mercy and cooperation.

That was why he was subconsciously so aware of his sister.

It was true that he held admiration and affection for Giselle Davi, but the fact that he felt she was drawing a line was a big reason why he couldn't approach her easily.

But that very sister spoke concisely.

“Yes. Likewise, whether Giselle Davi accepts you or not is up to her. I have no intention of getting involved, Louis. I just haven’t seen you for a while and don't know what you've been up to, so I asked without much thought.”

Louis scratched his head.

Was this problem so easily resolved?

What he had considered a serious concern and a grave problem for himself was, in fact, nothing at all.

Reaching that conclusion was both a relief and somehow disappointing.

And at the same time, he realized something new.

“Louis?”

Looking at his sister, who blinked her black eyes, Louis gave a slight smile and answered.

“I think this is the first time in my life I’ve seen it, sister.”

“Seen what?”

“You looking so idle.”

Christine’s eyes widened in surprise, then she let out a soft laugh and replied.

“…You’re right.”

Idleness was something that could not be found in Christine d'Aquitaine's life.

From a young age, she managed the merchant guild in place of her father who had abandoned it, and learned how to move in the shadows to protect her wealthy family, which was isolated from the traditional knightly families.

After growing up a little, she had to fight Louis's mother to survive, and was busy seizing control of the unstable comital family she had thus obtained.

Once she somehow managed that, she helped Pierre in various ways, moving restlessly as a merchant guild master, a member of the National Assembly, and a schemer in the shadows of Francia.

Finally, to support Pierre’s last war, she fought a naval battle as an admiral and helped with supplies, until she heard from Eris that Pierre was in danger and immediately launched a landing operation.

“You’re right, Louis. Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve been this idle since my honeymoon.”

She had entrusted the management of the naval supremacy she secured and the supply missions to Dureng and Admiral Lee, and the management of her intelligence organization, which was virtually powerless on Abyss Corporation's island, was left to Lina.

Other than partially managing the naval landing party she had hastily organized, Christine d'Aquitaine had surprisingly little to do on this island.

“Was coming here a selfish choice after all? I can’t do much now that I’m here…”

As Christine muttered softly, Louis shook his head firmly.

“No, that was your decision, sister. And rather, it's you who is strange for being anxious about having nothing to do after coming all the way into this death trap. This is Marquis Lafayette's fault.”

“Really? Is that so?”

Christine chuckled, amused.

“Yes. Because I think I know how you feel.”

Just as his sister said, he hadn't been able to talk much with Giselle.

He'd seen her a few times thanks to his position as liaison officer, but at most, they only had a few short, business-like conversations. After the surprise attack, he had been too busy pouring mana into the gate to see her, liaison officer or not.

It wasn't as if Louis could directly offer any help to Giselle Davi, who was busy on the front line helping Commander Millbeau in the defensive battle.

But still, just being here, facing the same danger as her, was definitely reassuring.

At the very least, just by helping complete the gate she was protecting, Louis felt a sense of satisfaction.

He was sure it was the same for his sister.

“And it was nice being able to talk with you like this, since you’re here.”

Part of the reason Louis had been worrying alone was that he was embarrassed to bother his already incredibly busy sister with his own love life.

In reality, Louis had no idea what was on his sister’s mind.

And so, Louis decided to tell her what she needed to know.

“And you might not know this, sister. But in the end, no matter how many troops Her Majesty the Queen brought, they wouldn’t have been able to cross without your permission. If that had happened, we all would have died.”

It was certainly an incredible feat for the Queen to run away from home with an army, persuade a foreign king, and then execute an additional landing.

It would be stranger if there were any troops in the main force, who were just waiting for the gate to open after a handpicked advance party had already been selected, who wanted to enter a death trap again, but she had managed it.

But in the end, even if they had set out without the National Assembly's permission, it would have been meaningless if his sister, the Admiral of the Navy, hadn't allowed them to land.

As a member of the National Assembly herself, his sister would face enormous repercussions, but thanks to her actions, the expeditionary force was saved. And yet, the one who did it thought it was just her duty and that she hadn’t been of any help…

“Yes, you’re right.”

As his sister finally smiled more comfortably, Louis scratched his head with his finger and added.

“And you might not know this.”

“Hm?”

“Marquis Lafayette before you came and after you came are like two different people. If you saw the Marquis before you arrived, you wouldn’t be able to say, even as an empty phrase, that there's nothing you can do.”

“Is… that so?”

“Yes, yes.”

Louis answered his endlessly wise but in some ways endlessly frustrating sister's question perfunctorily, then pulled out another potion, swallowed it, scowled, and waved her away.

In the past, when he had vaguely feared his sister, he would never have been able to act this comfortable.

But now, Louis knew well what kind of person his sister was.

“So go to the side of the person who needs you. I'll stay here, down this disgustingly tasteless medicine, and finish the gate.”

Christine chuckled and rose from her seat.

“Alright. Good luck, Louis.”

And a moment later.

“Thank you.”

At his sister's added words as she was about to leave, Louis smiled with satisfaction and headed for his post.

*

I had expected it to some extent, but there was no additional invasion from Paimon.

Perhaps thanks to Eris’s presence, the turbid, purple fog no longer plagued us, and the soldiers, thanks to the sense of security that the Saintess Queen was with them and had driven away the fog, rested better and smiled much more than before.

I, too, found it much easier to ask for advice now that Christine and Desaix were here, instead of the somewhat unreliable Millbeau or the four generals.

Only after regaining some mental stability did I truly realize how psychologically cornered and exhausted the advance party and I had been before the reinforcements arrived.

Thanks to that, we were able to recover our unit's condition by rotating reconnaissance and guard personnel while waiting for the gate to be completed.

And, finally.

“It’s activating!”

The blue magical characters carved into the gate's framework, completed through the framework transported by ship and the efforts of countless mages, began to glow.

“Oh, ooooh…!”

A sight like a miracle unfolded.

“Ugh!”

A gust of wind swept through, and a few of the soldiers’ hats were caught and blown away.

Beyond the gate, a clear blue sky was visible.

Not the gloomy sky covered in the purple clouds and fog we had always seen since setting foot on this island, but a blue sky.

The wind blowing from the gate pushed the fog that Eris had been holding back even further away, and I saw Eris quickly pull her hood over her head against the pouring sunlight.

“Ooh…”

While everyone was in admiration of the miraculous sight.

“Hahahaha, look! The wonder of this era! Look up and praise it, this masterpiece of great magitek! The Magic Tower has done it!”

The Tower Master's voice, shattering the mood, echoed.

The Tower Master crossed from Brest, visible beyond the gate, to this Demon Island as if on a casual stroll, then turned his body to observe the gate.

“…You… have worked hard, Tower Master.”

When I spoke with great reluctance at his apparent lack of interest in the advance party and his sole focus on the gate, the Tower Master's gaze darted around before he ignored me and strode up to Christine, who was standing beside me, and abruptly seized her hand.

“My goodness, Countess Aquitaine! You are safe! Do you know how worried I was that this precious person might be harmed by the demons?”

Hey, let go of her hand, you damn old geezer.

“Thank you for your concern, Tower Master. And for all your effort.”

Even in the midst of this, Christine maintained her composure, shook the Tower Master’s hand once, then gracefully withdrew her own and began a conversation with him.

That aside, it’s amazing even seeing it with my own eyes.

The scenery of the distant naval port of Brest is spread out within the gate as if it were right next to us…

As I was thinking that, a man in a Revolutionary Army uniform crossed over from beyond the gate.

“It’s been a while, Marquis Lafayette. Wow, a purple sky… so this is really the Demon World.”

“You’ve worked hard in my absence, Berthier. The main force's preparations for departure are perfect, I presume?”

“I had a hell of a time, thanks to Commander Desaix crossing over as well, but…”

Alexandre Berthier gave a light wink and replied.

“Haha, what is there to say? The one million troops of the Central Continent Allied Expeditionary Force have completed their thorough preparations! Please give the order!”

A sigh of relief escaped me.

Yes, everyone said it was a reckless operation, but we finally did it.

We had finally reached the fruit of that desperate struggle.

“Ahem, ahem, though I’m not sure you should be so relieved.”

“Hm?”

When I questioned Berthier’s words, he replied with a very sour face.

“The National Assembly is sharpening its knives. You should prepare for a hearing as soon as you return…”

“Ah, that, well…”

It was to be expected…

I grinned and replied.

“If we return victorious, it’ll work out somehow, won't it?”

“Haha, it must be nice to be so carefree.”

No, actually, I’m not that carefree.

But I'm just hoping that since Christine and Eris are a set, we can help each other and somehow manage the aftermath.

As we were buoyed by joy, Commander Maxim, with dark circles under his eyes, stepped forward.

“It has been a while, Tower Master.”

“Ooh, yes! Maxim, my friend! You did it! You’ve worked hard.”

“Heh heh, you haven't forgotten your promise of additional research funding, have you?”

“Tsk, you materialist. You lack the consciousness to contribute to the progress of magitek by dedicating your whole body.”

“Heh heh, I wouldn't want to hear that from you of all people, Tower Master. Well, then. The function seems to be maintained normally, so we will now conduct a closure experiment for emergencies. It’s purely procedural, of course.”

“Yes, yes. Tsk, I don't know why we have such safety rules. In that time, we could be innovating…”

“I beg you, but I hope even you, Tower Master, would understand that things like this are necessary for the progress of magitek…”

It shouldn’t happen, but in the case of an emergency, there had to be an option for the Continental Army to retreat and close the gate.

So everyone thought it was just a procedural necessity.

“Hm?”

Until Maxim flinched.

“What is it, Commander?”

“This, can’t be?”

Blue mana flowed from Maxim’s hand, but the blue magic characters carved into the gate’s framework turned red, rejecting his mana.

What, what's happening?

As we stood there in shock, the face of the old man, the Tower Master, who had just been spouting nonsense, instantly froze.

“Restrain all of the vanguard’s mages!”

“Gasp, pant! Tower Master!”

“What is happening?”

Just as Eris asked in surprise, and the Tower Master was about to reply with a grave face.

“N-No way, this is different from what was promised—Keuk, Kuaaaak!”

Three of the mages who, just moments before, had been looking at the gate with pride, writhed in agony—

And then collapsed, vomiting blood.

The Tower Master spat out as if chewing on his words.

“Idiots. To be played by demons.”

“Wha-What on earth.”

Amid the confusion, Commander Maxim replied with a grim face.

“The gate’s control system seems to have been contaminated. We can’t… close the gate.”

Damn it.