Episode 118 War to Protect the Revolution –
20,000 imperial troops kneeled before the Marquis Kaiserine Lafayette.
10,000 fled and were captured or surrendered by the Chasseurs of the revolutionary army, and countless soldiers deserted during the disorderly defeat.
The imperial hussars, who would normally crack down on and capture deserters, have long been defeated by the Frangian cavalry.
The imperial army managed to retreat to the Rhineland, but the number of imperial troops that arrived was less than 10,000.
The 50,000-strong imperial army was wiped out in an instant, and even Archduke Johan Leopold, the empire’s hero and master, fell.
In such a situation, as the revolutionary army advanced into the Rhineland, Duke Henry and Count Wittelsbach could do nothing but collect their remaining troops and retreat.
* * *
Germanburg, the capital of the Germanian Empire.
“John John…!”
Imperial Kaiser Otto II threw his drink against the wall and cried out Archduke Leopold’s name.
“Give back my army to the army of the empire!”
“Your Majesty…”
Cecilia bit her lip, unable to stop her husband.
“Where did all the 100,000 to 100,000 troops go?
Otto II, who was breathing heavily, turned around and approached Cecilia.
“What is this, Cecilia? You didn’t tell me to believe the author! But how ungrateful is John to return my favor in this way!”
“Your Majesty. Calm down-”
“The 50,000 remaining troops disappeared without even fighting? Do you think that makes sense? In the first place, it was strange that the imperial army lost battle after battle to a country like Francia, which was devastated by civil war! “There is no doubt that John was in cahoots with Frangia!”
In front of the crying emperor, Cecilia closed her eyes tightly and opened her mouth.
“Your Majesty, Archduke Leopold…”
But before Cecilia could finish speaking, Otto II stretched out his hands and grabbed her by both shoulders.
“Cecilia, my dear Cecilia. “Are you really going to defend that incompetent loser in front of me?”
“Your Majesty, I…”
“You can’t do that. I didn’t tell you that when those ruthless people always ignore me and deny me, they just don’t recognize my true intentions. “When everyone turned their backs on me, you were always on my side.”
While Cecilia was unable to say anything, Otto II began to ramble with half-crazed eyes.
“It was you who defended the person I was trying to throw out… I can’t believe it, you too. That can’t be possible…”
“Your Majesty, you have to fix it. Now the princes-”
Cecilia reached out both hands and held Otto II’s hand in an attempt to somehow calm him down, but Otto II shook her hand away.
“It’s noisy! Are you telling me to go through the humiliation of being bitten by those wolves again?”
“your majesty!”
“This is not a war that happened because you asked for it. Cecilia, please come forward. Isn’t my will also your will? “You didn’t always work for me.”
Otto II, who said that, already looked as devastated as when he was defeated by the Great King of Krafte.
Cecilia almost stumbled at the feeling that everything she had managed to achieve after all those years of coaxing and comforting him was collapsing.
“Please help me with my luggage this time too. This war must continue. You must win! It can’t end like this! “If it ends like this, I will never be the same again…”
Otto II, who was pulling his head, muttered with bloodshot eyes.
“I can’t live like that. No matter what the feudal lords say, this war must be won, even if it means burning everything in the empire. “No matter what happens, use any means to end this war victoriously!”
* * *
Caesarine Cecilia of the Germanian Empire walked down the corridors of the imperial palace and looked at the scenery below the window.
In the middle of summer, flowers were in full bloom in the garden, full of green and beautifully grown plants, but to Cecilia, they only seemed colorless.
Cecilia sneered at the sight, which looked strikingly similar to the one she had seen when she first came to the Empire when she was still a young girl.
-You want to continue the war? Isn’t the empire being trampled by their military boots right now? Can you make the decision to continue the war here without going crazy?
-Do you know that everything is the Kaiser’s will? Who knew that the Kaiser was wrapped in the width of your skirt? Oh, are you saying that you are of the blood of those Franzians? Are you trying to bring ruin to the empire?
-The Duchy of Strass will withdraw from this war. Ha, the army to be withdrawn has been replaced by the famous hero of the empire, so all we have to do is cut off military support!
-We have to endure humiliation and repatriate the families of the damn rebels, but the empire that actually started the war can’t do anything and won’t even sign a truce? What value is there in an empire that cannot protect its princes?
-I will never let this go, Kaiserin. If the Kaiser will not repay us for the damage and humiliation we have suffered, we will make him repay us.
Cecilia had to bear the criticism and condemnation of the fierce feudal lords alone without the Kaiser.
In the end, all the princely states withdrew their support for the war, and in addition to all the military expenses they had provided, they even demanded compensation for damages for the families of the surrenderers they were repatriating to Francia.
Even though the empire did not issue an order to repatriate them, the princes who were afraid that the revolutionary army would immediately attack their territory colluded among themselves, made their own decisions, and unilaterally notified them.
Although they do not have an army or armament to provide to the empire or to fight against the revolutionary army, they seem to be able to prepare an army to threaten the empire, whose main army has collapsed by colluding among themselves.
But what awaited Cecilia, who arrived with her exhausted body, was not rest.
“majesty. “A guest is here.”
“customer?”
“The CEO of Abyss Corporation ‘Pride’ Company and ‘Las’ Company is requesting an audience with you. What do you do?”
“Huh-”
Cecilia let out a shaky laugh.
Should we really call them demons?
It comes exactly at the moment of greatest need.
“I guess I should welcome you in.”
* * *
If this continues, the empire will be destroyed.
Nevertheless, her husband wants the war to continue. Unwilling to accept defeat in war.
-If you, as a royal, have a sense of responsibility to take care of the people of your homeland and want to make them happy. Your Majesty must step down.
If I had listened to that bold half-brother and backed away, it wouldn’t have ended up like this.
no.
-That is my right from the beginning.
Cecilia had no doubt that she believed that.
Her father sold her, a child who knew nothing, to an enemy country and caused his kingdom to fall behind the times.
Her brothers greedy for power and drove the kingdom into civil war without even caring about what hardships she had to endure in a distant country.
She is more worthy of the throne of Francia than they are. Cecilia believes that even to this moment.
however.
-If you long for what you have lost and lose what is left, only more suffering remains.
An illegitimate puppet queen appointed by the puppet regime of the Franzian mob and a traitor to the nobility.
-I really want to avoid that, but if it is unavoidable. My place is not on the throne, but next to them. I will protect them until the moment my body breaks under their banner on the battlefield where they will bleed.
Her half-sister, who had shown a bold attitude, did indeed keep her words.
So much so that neither the enemy country’s army nor even Cecilia, who merely received the report, dare deny the praise of ‘Saint King’.
caused a war Because there was no other way to repay what was taken from her.
Those who had once despised her as a young outsider but came to praise her as the Kaiserin of the Empire were driven into battle.
Because I didn’t think I would lose.
Because I believed that it was natural for her to win and get the rights she deserved.
However, if there is an invasion, it is natural to be prepared to be invaded.
If you try to steal it, it is right that it can be taken away.
I should have known.
To Cecilia, the Kaiserin of the Empire, and to Cecilia, the princess who coveted the throne of Francia.
-Does Your Highness have such a determination? Are you going to stand on the same battlefield as the soldiers you are sending to battle? Have you ever thought about the families who will be saddened by their deaths?
Did you have that kind of determination?
Cecilia, who was lost in thought while sitting on the Empress’s throne in the throne room without the Kaiser, raised her head and looked at the two devils walking in with strides.
A white-haired giant wearing jet-black armor decorated with a split demon king’s crown.
A red-haired devil wearing an admiral’s clothes and a hat.
“Bael, the CEO of Abyss Corporation ‘Pride’, is Kaiserin Cecilia of the Insadrio Germania Empire.”
“Greetings from Barbatos, CEO of Abyss Corporation ‘Las’!”
Cecilia replied, twisting the corner of her mouth.
“On behalf of the great Kaiser of the Germanian Empire, I welcome you. So what is your business?”
“On behalf of Abyss Corporation, I have come to discuss the issue of repayment of the loan provided by our company.”
“Yeah, I see.”
Money borrowed from the devils, believing that they would be able to repay it if they won together with the feudal lords and took over Franzia.
All of the troops received with that money were either surrendered to the enemies, annihilated, or the feudal lords withdrew and were used to intimidate the empire.
“It is regrettable to say this, but in light of the recent war situation, we feel the need to slightly adjust the credit ratings of the Empire and Kaiserin.”
Bael’s face as he said that was solemn and expressionless, and did not feel sad at all.
“Ha, okay. So I came here to get your money?”
“But realistically, it would be impossible. “I heard that your Kaiser wants the war to continue.”
“…so?”
Bael responded with a smile that twisted the corners of his mouth, similar to Cecilia’s.
“It may be difficult to repay the loan, but aren’t there other alternatives?”
“‘Replacement system.’”
“exactly. I heard that the people of the empire are agitated by the subversive ideology spread in Francia. “Wouldn’t the empire be more stable if we set an example for those ‘impure’ people?”
“Ha haha….”
Cecilia laughed.
The Kaiser wants the war to continue.
However, now that all the feudal lords have withdrawn, the empire does not have the money to do so.
Just repaying the devils’ loan is too much, and there is no way we can afford to wage war.
“So, pay off your debt by selling the people of the empire to you?”
“exactly. There are enough humans in the empire, so if you make the decision, we are willing to significantly increase the empire’s credit rating. If so, it would be possible to raise additional funds to continue the war. … Don’t you need it?”
They presented an alternative that would solve all of that at once.
As if he had been waiting, he appears at the most desperate moment and offers the sweetest temptation.
“I guess you guys did this to my poor brother too.”
Bael didn’t answer and Cecilia laughed.
-majesty. How is such an act different from Abama, who sent His Majesty to the Empire while ignoring his sorrow and suffering?
Because she hated those who took from her and then disappeared at will.
Because she wanted to make up for it somehow, she couldn’t fall into the same place as them.
Cecilia answered, standing up from the throne.
“I refuse.”
“…I don’t understand. “If you reject our offer, we will take steps to seize the empire’s assets to recover the loan.”
There is no place that Abyss Corporation’s capital has not reached.
Even if it is not the property of the imperial family, if the assets of the princely states are seized under the pretext of belonging to the empire, the princely states, which have no power to do anything about the Abyss Corporation, will instead hold the imperial family responsible.
“Then it will become impossible for you to wage war?”
Cecilia sneered and raised her hands.
“Isn’t there another way?”
At the same time, the door to the throne room opened and heavily armed knights and soldiers rushed in.
“For the two CEOs of Abyss Corporation, wouldn’t the Holy Church give them more compensation than that?”
A moment of silence passed.
Before entering the throne room, I confirmed that there were no weapons. Even if it’s the Great Devil, it’s probably worth it.
The moment Cecilia made that decision and swallowed dry saliva.
“Kk hahahahaha!”
Bael, who had maintained a solemn expression, suddenly burst into laughter.
Everyone froze for a moment in laughter at the sight of just two demons surrounded by hundreds of knights and troops, and then Barbatos opened his mouth.
“Bael permission required. “Can we fight?”
“I grant permission, Barbatos.”
“Hahaha!”
“Hit!”
The moment when Barbatos’s laughter and Cecilia’s voice burst out at the same time and the knights rush in.
When Barbatos spread her arms, she already had a pistol in both hands.
“Uh where?”
While Cecilia was panicking, the blood-red ore embedded in the two pistols emitted an eerie light and a gunshot rang out.
“Ugh!”
“Ahh!”
There is no reloading while gunshots ring out in rapid succession.
The hands moved at a speed that was difficult for the eye to catch, as if dancing, and the knights screamed accordingly.
Don Barbatos walked around the throne room, stretching out his arms and crossing them, when he blew on a pistol that was emitting heat due to excessive projection of magic power.
All the knights who had rushed towards Bael and Barbatos had fallen.
“Ugh….”
“Monster…!”
“The performance of this new product is excellent. However, the fever is excessive. “Supplementation is needed.”
Barbatos repeatedly blew on his pistol and said a word, which served as a signal and the knights who had hesitated rushed forward again.
“It’s now! Strike!”
Barbatos blocked the sword of the knight who charged at him with his pistol and pulled it back.
“What?”
When Barbatos pulled back the sword of the knight who had lost his balance in the fluid movement of handling the pistol as if it were a dagger, the knight immediately let go of the sword.
“regret. “This CEO is also skilled in hand-to-hand combat.”
Barbatos, who stuck a pistol in his waist and grabbed the sword, swung his sword, and the helmeted knight’s head was cut off like a radish.
Barbatos, holding a sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, smiled and opened his mouth.
“Your military’s power assessment is extremely inferior and lacks tension. I hope you come at once.
From that moment on, it was nothing more than a one-sided slaughter.
Amidst the screams and bloodshed of the imperial army, Cecilia was facing Bael, suppressing her trembling body.
Instead of drawing a weapon right in front of her, the devil was looking at her with his arms crossed.
“This will have proven that our company has sufficient capabilities to collect the debt owed to the empire. I ask you again, Kaiserin Cecilia. Are you willing to offer the Empire’s ‘humans’ to repay the loan?”
From the corner of her eye, Cecilia saw the sight of all the guards being slaughtered and the few remaining soldiers eventually running away.
“does not exist.”
“Right. If you say Kaiserin. Your actions are a hostile act that destroys all credibility with the Abyss Corporation. So there’s no reason for us not to ‘dispose’ of you. Lastly, I ask you one more time. “Is there any reversal?”
Cecilia bit her lip.
Her half-brother asked if she was ready.
The moment she came to this land, Princess Cecilia of Francia died, so the status of Kaiserin of the Empire was everything to her.
When she raised the prestige of the empire and was praised for her competence, those who praised her as the empress most worthy of Germania are now cursing the Frangian empress as if she were flipping the palm of her hand, saying she is ruining the country.
If the war she started in search of revenge will ultimately destroy her, she will remain as Kaiserin of the Empire, not as a puppet of demons, until the moment of destruction.
“If you can, try killing me, devil. No matter what I did, if you kill me, a Kaiserin, in the middle of the empire, the sense of crisis you have painstakingly diluted for hundreds of years will immediately erode humanity.”
“Huh-”
Bael raised the corner of his mouth and stretched out his hand towards Cecilia.
As Cecilia forced herself to straighten her body, which had been trying to shrink without realizing it, Bael laughed as he tapped her on the shoulder.
“Indeed, it’s better than King Louis. Barbatos is returning.”
“Eh, no war?”
“I won’t do it, Barbatos. “We benefit from asset seizure alone.”
“Bu- bu- ‘Las’ company expresses regret. “It’s so boring.”
The two demons confidently walked out of the throne room, leaving behind Cecilia, who fell down in her seat as she lost strength.
A maid came running to Cecilia, who was looking at the throne room covered in blood with a devastated face.
“Kaka Kaiserin. Are you okay?”
After a long period of silence.
“Tell this to their king in the Kingdom of Krafte.”
Cecilia said, shedding tears.
“Kaiserin of the Empire will visit the Great King.”
