I Don’t Need a Guillotine for My Revolution

Chapter 237: 237. Abyssal Holy War – Clash (3)

Episode 237. Abyssal Holy War – Clash (3)

The soldiers who had once completely lost their will to fight now shout and brandish their weapons.

Thanks to Eris, their fear of the countless Drones before them, which persisted even after being freed from the nightmares, has vanished.

Eris's eloquence wasn't flashy or sophisticated.

Yet, she captivated the soldiers in an instant because her own actions supported her words.

A miracle made possible because no one doubted that she, the Saintess Queen, would leave them to fend for themselves on the battlefield.

That alone was enough for us to be able to fight now.

I quietly saluted Eris.

Eris nodded back at me.

But there was no time to be leisurely.Thud-

As if it had been waiting, an incredibly ominous sound rang out.

Completely synchronized footsteps, impossible for an army of the living to replicate.

The sound of nearly one million Drones marching felt like an earthquake.

I saw Paimon glaring at me from the distance.

A firm enmity, unlike any he had shown before.

Even from this far away, the killing intent itself seemed to pierce my skin.

That, rather, made me laugh.

So he finally recognizes me as a proper enemy.

Now, watch.

You act as if you always have the upper hand, and you may think you've finally trapped me this time, but you bastards have always failed.

They saw me, Pierre de Lafayette, as some kind of Anomaly and focused on me.

Indeed, I am an Anomaly, just as they think.

It's no wonder they see me that way, as I experienced a Regression that should have been impossible.

But while it may have started with Regression, thinking that I alone am special is your greatest miscalculation.

Christine, who would have been meaninglessly poisoned, is by my side as the one most precious to me, supporting and helping me.

Gaston, who would have fallen trying to stop the Revolutionary Army without his loyalty ever being understood, has made a name for himself as a knight stronger than any other, and even now, he leads my Cuirassiers.

The Revolution, started from seeds sown by demons that would have only plunged Francia and the Central Continent into calamity before collapsing, has changed for the far better with just the right catalyst.

Division and conflict vanished, and Eris, once slandered as a witch and executed, has become a Queen, a supporter of the Revolution, and its spiritual pillar.

It's not just the Revolution and Francia.

The wave of change has already swept across the entire Central Continent, and now, all of it is beyond the demons' control.

Their steps, turning their eyes to Iberica once the calamity in Francia stopped, led Kroxx, a mere slave of Iberica, to found a kingdom that never existed in history.

Even the Germania Empire, which once fought and bled against us, now stands with us. Gilles de Lionel, whom they used, now aims his sword at the demons as Jill von Leonhardt.

And what of Krafte?

The king of the military state once called Humanity's Strongest, who fought a decisive battle against Francia, now burns with a will to fight no less than that of Francia, which has the highest morale in this alliance.

Eris's will influenced even that Corrupted Theocracy, Christine's wisdom brought in the Magic Kingdom and the Northern Allied Kingdom, and Talleyrand's expertise persuaded even the impossibly arrogant Eastern Empire.

There's no way I could have done all this alone.

They focused only on me, and that's why they failed.

Because their opponent isn't me, but 'us'.

I turned my back on Paimon's burning gaze and shouted.

“Relay orders to all units! Into battle formation!”

“Yes, sir! All units, into battle formation!”

“Dispatch the messengers!”

The moment the order was given, commanders and officers began to move busily.

We hadn't been idle either.

Even if the soldiers' morale was hitting rock bottom, even in a situation where the decision to retreat might be given.

We were pooling all our wisdom to devise a way to counter them.

Just as we always have in the countless desperate war situations we've faced, this time too, we would cross the brink of death to seize victory.

Even with one million Drones before our eyes.

Because everyone I could possibly gather is here in this place.

And.

I walked quickly, approaching the person who hadn't taken their eyes off me for a while.

The one wearing an Admiral's military uniform, with tense eyes but still holding a faint smile.

As an Admiral of the Navy, she cannot use warships in a ground battle.

Now that the Francia homeland is connected through the gate, there's no reason she must be on this battlefield.

Still, she chose to remain here, and from the moment the gate opened, she has been overseeing the supply management for our Allied Forces of over one million.

I smiled lightly and said.

“Then, I'll be counting on you for supplies during the battle, Admiral.”

Christine smiled back and replied.

“I trust you too, Commander. Ammunition, cannonballs, food supplies, whatever it is. You can use it all without holding back.”

“That sounds like a truly luxurious war.”

Coming from Christine of all people, that meant we could use them like water.

And the person who can say such words right behind me is here, in this place. With me.

“Christine, for you.”

“Pierre, for you.”

We smiled at each other, then turned our backs and headed to our respective battlefields.

All preparations were complete.

Now, I'll face you.

Come, Paimon.

*

“Commence volley fire!”

“Fire!”

“Feuer!”

The cannons roared to life in unison, and dozens of cannonballs rained down on the enemy position in succession.

There wasn't even a need to aim.

The fog had cleared, leaving a plain view.

Wherever you looked, Drones were densely covering the ground as they approached.

Whatever they shot, Drones were hit, so the artillerymen were firing the cannons nonstop.

The enemies weren't just taking the hits.

Wheee-

Wheee-

A characteristic roar resounded as rockets flew in.

However-

A golden barrier formed in the sky, and the rockets caused a chain of explosions, embroidering the empty air before they could reach our army.

“Ooh-”

“Waaaaaah!”

“The Saintess Queen grants us her protection!”

The soldiers who saw the sight let out cheers, raising their morale.

And, it didn't end there.

With Eris's presence and the gate opening, the fog was pushed much farther back.

Which means the enemy's rocket battery is visible to the naked eye-

Ruuuumble-

A sound of the sky rumbling began.

The Demon Races holding the rocket batteries tried to hastily flee, but the flashing firebolts falling from above were faster.

A pillar of fire, loud enough for the explosions to reach us, plunged from the sky and incinerated the Demon Races, and it was plain to see their rockets, which should have been fired at us, exploding in a chain reaction, leaving not even a trace of them.

“Oh… what a magnificent sight.”

Chief of Staff Alexandre Berthier exclaimed in admiration.

If the Storm Witch controls weather manipulation, then the Magic Tower Master literally commands flame itself. It really suits his fiery temperament.

At that level, he is a mystery truly worthy of the name Sage. No matter how many cannons we brought, they could never produce such impact and firepower.

“Have you seen, you worthless fools! This is the greatness of the magic arts! Bow your heads and marvel at this brilliant authority! Ah, aah! Of course, Countess Aquitaine need not do so. More sponsorship funds would be sufficient, yes, yes.”

…The problem is that the very one who performed the miracle is ruining his own mystique with his own mouth.

“Haaah!”

Louis let out a battle cry, and at the same time, I saw lightning strike from the sky, scorching the demons who were approaching with machine guns from among the Drones.

Not bad, Louis.

Before long, fireballs from spells chanted by the magicians as a group flew in, incinerating the Drones and the Demon Races mixed among them.

“Wow, this firepower is really something.”

At Louis Desaix's amazed words, I chuckled and gave an order.

“Thanks to them, the artillery corps just needs to focus on rapid firing. The magicians have a limit to their mana, so have them focus on precision strikes against threatening enemies, and have the artillery corps project sustained firepower.”

“Understood, His Excellency the Marquis Lafayette!”

Considering the hellish hardship we went through using skirmishers to estimate coordinates in the fog and conduct counter-battery fire because the rocket battery's range was so long, it couldn't be more convenient than this.

Since the Magic Tower Master will take care of the rocket battery, we just need to keep projecting firepower without needing to measure distances and move batteries for unnecessary counter-battery fire.

“The Drones, they're still approaching!”

Nevertheless.

No matter how many of their forces turn into lumps of flesh or get swept away by the shelling, the Drones advance unshaken.

Because they are puppets that, though once alive, have been reduced to moving according to Paimon's will.

I turned my head and looked at Damien De Millbeau.

“Are the deployment and defense line preparations complete?”

“Ye, yes, sir! His Excellency the Marquis Lafayette! The preparations are thoroughly complete!”

“Good. You'll have to add another brilliant line of military achievement to your record as the 'Master of Defense,' won't you?”

“Th-th-that's right. I am thank…ful to His Excellency the Marquis Lafayette for giving me this honorable opportunity.”

…I said something nice to be in a good mood, but this bastard's expression.

I purposely mixed a bit of mana into the pat on his shoulder.

“Ugh!”

“Good! I'm counting on you. Move to your position!”

Demian left the command post, grumbling about something.

That bastard just cursed me, didn't he? For a knight, rotten as he is, he's feigning such pain.

Still, I have something I can trust in him.

“Lieutenant Colonel Giselle Davi. I trust you will assist Commander Millbeau well.”

Hearing my words, Giselle immediately saluted me, then replied with a small smile.

“Leave it to me, His Excellency the Marquis Lafayette! …Commander Millbeau will also do well in the field.”

“Ah, right.”

Yes, I know too.

That even if he looks so unreliable, he's a guy who gets things done when it counts.

That's why I could entrust him with the role of paying them back a little for all we've suffered since landing on this island.

Now then, shall I see how well Millbeau does…

-

The plains, where visibility was slowly starting to get obscured by acrid battle smoke.

Paimon walked with long strides, his hands making a crackling sound.

After all, Baal had most of the Demon Army, and the units under his command were only those using rocket batteries or machine guns.

The main force, the majority, are Drones.

His command isn't needed.

For him, transmitting his intentions to the Drones is as natural as breathing, and the vast mana that makes it possible is being extracted from Pandemonium and transferred even at this moment.

The reason Paimon was now walking along the battle line was simple.

‘Now, who should I rip to death to make Pierre wail in grief.’

The Succubi said that Marchioness Lafayette, Christine Aquitaine, had entered this island.

Her physical abilities are at the level of an ordinary human noble, so catching her wouldn't be difficult.

Should I just rip that woman's head off right in front of Pierre's eyes?

If she's a non-combatant and obviously in the rear, what about the Saintess Queen?

Or Pierre's cherished knight, Gaston?

Whoever it is, I'll have to crush them to my heart's content as soon as I get my hands on them, that should improve my mood a bit-

Thinking this, Paimon turned his gaze to the front.

What the enemies were doing was the same.

The artillery corps ceaselessly fires cannonballs to kill Drones in groups, and the light infantry steps forward to fire, reducing their numbers.

The light infantry, with its long range and decent accuracy rate, mows down the Drones with volley fire, and those that survive and charge are eliminated by skirmishers using rifled rifles.

It's an efficient movement they've researched to eliminate the Drones, but that's all it is.

Until now, they could only somehow endure because Paimon had been steadily deploying thousands of Drones sequentially.

Now the gate was open, and he had secured full command authority over the Drones activated by Baal.

Nevertheless, far from knowing their place and backing down, Paimon had no intention of sparing those who had ruined his plans.

One million Drones.

No matter how much they massacre, and massacre, and massacre, a fight between Drones that move with an endlessly supplied mana and humans who will one day tire, is no fight at all.

In the end, they'll be pushed and pushed back by the endlessly surging wave of Drones until they are crushed to death.

All Paimon had to do was deploy the maximum number of Drones possible all at once to make them collapse in an instant.

Paimon finally saw the sight of their light infantry being pushed back by the endless swarm of Drones despite firing and firing, forcing them to flee in a hurry.

Now will come the grapeshot barrage, the line infantry's volley fire, and then nothing but the clash.

The moment he thought that, even the line infantry unit behind the light infantry began to fall back.

What is that?

Concentrated fire from the artillery corps and a barrage of magic fell upon the Drones chasing the fleeing infantry, buying time for the infantry to retreat.

Did their morale break, crushed by the Drone army?

If so, they wouldn't have fought in the first place.

Paimon had his doubts, but not for long.

Because behind where the Allied infantry had retreated, a long pit had been dug.

A trench line? Paimon thought so, but pontoon bridges had been installed over it.

The Allied soldiers didn't enter the trench but crossed right over the bridges-

And before the Drones fiercely pursuing them could approach, they removed the bridges.

And from the other side, the exposed direct fire cannons began to pour grapeshot fire.

“Ha.”

As Paimon let out an empty laugh, a storm of grapeshot engulfed the Drones.

Countless Drones were torn to shreds, falling tattered and battered.

“A worthless trick.”

But they do not stop.

One million Drones relentlessly advance.

Grapeshot fire at close range boasts overwhelming firepower, but reloading inevitably takes time.

Musket fire from the infantry poured down on the Drones that approached through the storm of grapeshot, and countless Drones fell.

But muskets also need time to reload.

Whether they fired grapeshot or muskets, no matter what they did, the Drones relentlessly advanced over the fragments and bodies of their comrades, finally reaching the pit the Allied Forces had dug.

A pit so deep and wide it was impossible to simply cross.

Cross with a bridge and then remove it? Did they think that would stop them from crossing?

“Like a bunch of idiots.”

He had troops in abundance.

Acts that a normal human army could not perform were also possible for him.

Just as Paimon had thought, the Drones jumped right into the pit.

It seems they put some effort into preparing it, but it's not like they could collapse the entire ground foundation.

At best, it's a trench-level pit, and they could cross that much anytime.

A Drone jumps to the bottom, another Drone on top of it, and yet another jumps in.

Even if they are crushed, smashed, and broken by each other's body weight.

The Drones feel no fear, no pain.

A path of flesh becomes the floor, and another path of flesh becomes a bridge.

“Disappointing, Pierre.”

To pull such a pathetic trick even after seeing how they overcame the fortress wall in Iberica.

The moment the Drones were about to jump over the pit that was now half-filled-

KABOOM-!

With a massive roar, a vibration as if an earthquake had struck shook the ground.

In that very instant, the connection with a significant number of his countless Drones vanished.

Paimon slowly turned his gaze and let out an empty laugh as he saw the large explosion in the pit his Drones had jumped into and the flames that now rose from it.

Had they prepared explosives in advance, knowing the Drones would jump in? Because they thought we would form a human wall to cross?

Even as Paimon was thinking, the human army beyond the fiery pit poured out a relentless barrage of grapeshot and musket fire-

and the Drones were repeating the act of jumping into the fiery pit to burn.

“…Pierre.”

Paimon gnashed his teeth and growled-

but he had no choice but to order the Drones to retreat for now.