I Don’t Need a Guillotine for My Revolution

Chapter 77: Directory Government - Shadow Meeting (1)

Although somewhat expected, the enemies, a coalition of tribal alliances and the Porto army, were quite disorganized in terms of cohesion and coordination.

Attempting to ambush us, they encountered an unexpected situation and were instead thrown into disarray, collapsing as we charged.

Having utterly defeated the enemy in the first battle, Kroxx's army regrouped, moved a little further south, and set up camp.

And they were having a feast with their entire army.

Boisterous laughter and talking could be heard everywhere, as Orcs, humans, and Goblins sat in their respective places, enjoying meat and bread.

"Hmm, is this common?"

"We try to do it as often as possible, and we always do it after a victory!"

Kroxx answered, gulping down a piece of meat after chewing it noisily.

I had thought that these people, who I knew mainly relied on hunting, were trying to import a large amount of food for some reason...

"You feed the army well?""Hahaha! Eat well, train hard, march fast, and fight ferociously! That's what an army is for!"

Certainly, every country pays attention to the meals of its army, but they don't feed them as generously as these people do.

Thanks to their culture of not drinking alcohol, even with such feasts, there will be no big problems the next day, and it helps maintain morale.

I thought so and put the drink they poured to my mouth, and I was surprised.

"What is this? It's salty."

"Fermenting goat's milk and seasoning it with salt allows it to be stored for a long time. It's diluted with water. It's perfect for quenching thirst!"

It's so salty, does it help with dehydration?

I thought so, but after taking a few more sips, I felt my thirst quenched.

It's strange.

As I was doing that, Karok, sitting next to me, opened his mouth, and Shandra interpreted.

"He said he heard about your exploits in this battle and found it amazing."

"Ah, thank you. It was just improvisation."

"Hahaha, what improvisation! You handled it skillfully and effectively! I probably wouldn't have been able to do it so cleanly!"

Kroxx chuckled, drank the goat's milk drink and opened his mouth.

"Brother, how old are you?"

"Twenty-two."

"Huh, young."

"What about you?"

"I'm twenty-eight."

"You seem young too..."

I know that Orcs have a lifespan not much different from humans.

I thought so, but Kroxx stroked his chin with his hand and opened his mouth.

"Brother. I heard about your history from Hassan, and I saw yesterday's performance, but it's really impressive for someone who's only twenty-two."

That's my current age, but if I think about it before the regression, I've been on the battlefield for over 10 years.

I also experienced the fierce Francia civil war and the revolution against Valliant. This time, I even fought against the Germania Empire.

So, I'm naturally proficient in basic responses to battlefield situations.

But...

"Isn't it a bit strange to say that you're only twenty-eight and you've established a kingdom?"

"Hahahaha! That's true!"

Moreover, Kroxx, even in his hearty laughter now, showed a level of battlefield performance last night that chilled my spine.

He even jumped into the middle of the enemy's formation, as if his allies were in the way, and his rampaging form looked almost like a monster.

Come to think of it.

"Yesterday, Karok, I didn't see you on the battlefield?"

He's not as massive as Kroxx, but he is still quite large, and his overwhelming pressure made me think he was brave.

When Shandra relayed my words, Karok grinned, his face still grim, and replied.

"Since Karok-nim injured his eye, he has been focusing on commanding the soldiers and managing supplies rather than being at the forefront."

"Managing supplies."

Certainly, one eye would be a great hindrance in battle. It was another prejudice to think that he would be the vanguard just by looking at his size.

"We are raising goats in various places. Karok-nim is also in charge of receiving goat's milk from them in a timely manner, storing it, and processing it so that it can be fed to the soldiers. Quenching thirst is very important in this hot Iberian Peninsula."

"That's, a little surprising."

But even I was surprised to hear the last part. It seems that they manage supplies much more systematically than we thought.

"Indeed, he deserves to be called the king's first lieutenant."

When I spoke sincerely, Karok, who heard it, grinned, revealing his fangs.

"Hahaha, Karok was a chieftain with considerable power, but he was the first to decide to join us! I owe him a lot!"

So he's the first lieutenant.

It's completely different from Francia and relies heavily on Kroxx, but it seems they also have an efficient form of state.

"So, what's the next plan?"

"If we go a little further south, we will be in the territory of the largest tribe among those who are attached to the demons. We will demand their submission, and if they refuse, we will crush them!"

That's a very bold plan.

Wait, no.

"From what you say, it seems to be quite close to Dilrus. Did you make the frontline city the capital?"

At my words, Kroxx grinned, revealing his fangs.

"Because Dilrus is the center of the Iberian Peninsula! The sacred Earth is prepared for me and my brothers, so what reason is there to fear the enemies!"

It was such a Kroxx-like answer that I chuckled.

Indeed, you need this much boldness to be the King of the Wastelands.

*

My eyes slowly fluttered open.

The faint chirping of insects outside told me it was late at night.

Slowly, my hand emerged from under the blanket, drawing a dagger from my waist.

I was about to throw it, kicking off the blanket, when I froze.

Even by the dim moonlight, I couldn't mistake the all-too-familiar figure before me.

A black dress, like mourning clothes, unadorned.

Long, black hair cascading down her back.

Black eyes, deep as an abyss.

"...Christine?"

Christine, holding a fan, looked slightly startled, her eyes wide. A small sigh escaped her lips before she spoke.

"I'm surprised. You're quite alert, Pierre."

"Ah, my apologies."

I quickly sheathed the dagger.

But... this is the Iberian Peninsula?

"Why are you here?"

How did you get here?

My bewilderment was evident, but Christine looked confused in return.

"Didn't you get the letter?"

Letter? What letter?

Something felt off, but my mind was unusually sluggish.

"I sent a letter updating you on the capital's situation, but I received a reply saying you'd gone to the battlefield with them."

Christine's eyes held a certain coldness, and I quietly averted my gaze.

"No, I haven't done anything to cause you concern..."

"Are you saying that going to the battlefield isn't dangerous?"

Christine said this, folding the fan in her hand.

This is... I have nothing to say.

But I can't just leave her standing there...

Something is strange, but I don't know what's strange.

I frowned involuntarily, feeling drunk, and Christine came right in front of me.

"Uh, Christine?"

"...I was so surprised that I rushed all the way here, but you are no different from usual."

"No, I'm sorry to have made you come all the way here, but it's too sudden."

Before I could finish my thoughts, her breath was close. Christine reached out and hugged my neck.

I froze at the soft touch on my lips. Her black eyes, usually cold and submerged, now expressed passionate dissatisfaction.

The soft touch on my teeth, as if asking for permission, stopped my useless thoughts.

Pulling her close, the sensation of Christine's soft body curves blew away my self-control.

When I came to, Christine was beneath me, breathing heavily, struggling to catch her breath. Her flushed face turned to me, her eyes slightly dazed.

I was losing it.

I started to get up, fighting the urge to rip off her dress, but Christine reached out and grabbed my arm.

"...Pierre."

"Christine, don't tempt me-"

"I'm scared."

Christine looked up at me, tears welling in her eyes, and pleaded.

"...Reassure me."

In that instant, something inside me snapped.

*

Christine slowly blinks and looks up at me.

Her gaze slowly moves to the dagger at her neck and then back to my face.

"...Pierre?"

"Who are you."

The heat that had risen turned into anger and boiled over.

"Why, are you doing this?"

Christine's face shows a shocked expression and speaks in a trembling voice.

How can you imitate Christine to this extent?

I almost fell for it.

Christine and I are engaged, and we love each other. I definitely have a desire to make love to her.

But that's only after Christine has given Aquitaine to Louis, and after she has put down her burden and become free.

But there's no way she'd ask first.

Only when my head cooled down did I realize that the current situation was definitely strange.

It's possible that Christine sent a letter, and that I followed Kroxx, and now she's worried.

But how many days has it been, and she arrived here from Lumiere? Even though she hasn't trained in magic, she sneaks into my tent while I'm sleeping?

It's so unnatural that it's strange that I didn't realize it was strange until now.

The sensation of being intoxicated by something, which still remains faintly, fuels the discomfort.

"Should I just cut you?"

Christine, no, something wearing Christine's face, shut its mouth and stopped acting.

At that moment, a sound like glass cracking was heard, and a momentary dizziness hit me.

The tent I was tied to, no, the world is cracked and shattered and collapsed like glass fragments.

What the hell is going on?

Everything scatters and falls, leaving only broken glass fragments at my feet. The world is covered in pitch-black darkness.

It's definitely only darkness, but the human figure in front of me is very brightly captivating.

Wearing a nun's habit, but with one side of the skirt completely open, revealing her bare legs, a blasphemous sight.

The woman, whose long hair shines more brilliantly golden than any blonde I've ever seen, speaks with a puzzled face.

"Huh, that's strange. I clearly showed you the exact form you longed for, how did you notice?"Christine blinks slowly, her eyes lifting to meet mine.

Her gaze drifts down to the dagger at her throat, then returns to my face.

"...Pierre?"

"Who are you?"

The heat that had been building inside me ignited into a furious boil.

"Why are you doing this?"

Christine's face contorts in shock, her voice trembling.

'How can you imitate Christine so perfectly?'

I almost believed it.

Christine and I are engaged, deeply in love. Of course, I desire her.

But that intimacy is for after she gives Aquitaine to Louis, after she's free of her responsibilities.

She would never initiate it.

Only when my head cleared did the strangeness of the situation truly hit me.

It's possible she sent a letter, that I followed Kroxx, and now she's worried.

But how many days has it been since Lumiere? And she, untrained in magic, somehow snuck into my tent while I slept?

It's so unnatural, it's a wonder I didn't realize it sooner.

That lingering feeling of intoxication only fuels my unease.

"Should I just kill you?"

The creature wearing Christine's face clamps its mouth shut, the performance ending.

Suddenly, a sound like shattering glass echoes, and a wave of dizziness washes over me.

The tent, no, the world itself, cracks and splinters like glass, collapsing around me.

What's happening?

Everything disintegrates, leaving only broken shards at my feet, the world enveloped in an absolute, pitch-black void.

It's pure darkness, yet the figure before me stands out, impossibly bright.

She's dressed in a nun's habit, blasphemously altered with one side of the skirt completely open, revealing bare legs.

The woman, her long hair a more brilliant gold than any I've seen, speaks, a puzzled expression on her face.

"Huh, that's odd. I showed you precisely what you desired. How did you see through it?"

The instant I saw bat wings flapping behind the woman, I instinctively reached for the dagger at my waist.

Or rather, I should have.

My hand met only air. The dagger I never remove, not even to sleep, was gone.

Meanwhile, the blonde demon, eyes glowing gold, lifted the hem of her nun's habit.

"A pleasure. Gremory, CEO of Lust Corp, a subsidiary of Abyss Corporation, greets Marquis Pierre de Lafayette, Commander-in-Chief of the Francia Republican Revolutionary Army."

"Demon."

If I'd had a sword, I would have severed her head. But there was only endless darkness.

The glass shards from before had vanished.

Since it had come to this, perhaps I should strangle her?

Lowering my stance, I thought this, and the demon—Gremory—raised her hands defensively.

"Wait, wait! I oppose violence! I'm a delicate Succubus, but this is your dream. Even if you killed me, it would be pointless!"

"My dream?"

Succubus. Nightmare demon.

A legendary creature that infiltrates human dreams to drain their energy.

So, Christine from moments ago was this demon's doing.

About to lunge, fueled by rage, I paused as Gremory read my intent, crossing her hands in an 'X'.

"Ah, no! I only wanted to please you! The dream you just experienced is born of your own desires! If I were directing it, it wouldn't be so...detailed!"

So, then...

Because I'm frustrated, I had that dream about attacking Christine?

My face burned, the discomfort growing.

First, I needed to rip off that damn Succubus's wings.

"Aah!"

I charged, but the Succubus, with a timely flap of her wings, soared into the air.

That damned demon...

Grinding my teeth, I saw Gremory make a pained expression.

"I finally found a special class of energy, and it belongs to such a terrifying person. It's ruined. To only let me taste it and then force me to endure...it's too cruel..."

As Gremory rambled, she snapped her fingers. A familiar dizziness washed over me, and the world fractured.

We were no longer in the pitch-black void.

Instead, I found myself in a lavishly decorated room, lit by magic lamps, within a building of strange metal.

Seeing the sofa and table, I realized it was a reception room.

A figure I recognized rose from the sofa.

A purple, extravagant dress, topped with a white coat.

"This is the first time we've met in person, Marquis Pierre de Lafayette."

The red-haired demon smiled, her eyes like blood.

"Paimon, CEO of Sloth Corp, a subsidiary of Abyss Corporation, welcomes you."