Episode 144 Krafte War –
Near the end of spring after reorganizing for the return trip.
We left Iberica after receiving a grand farewell ceremony at the port of Porto, now owned by the Iberian Brotherhood.
Everyone seemed very happy to be able to leave the Iberica Peninsula before summer came.
Last summer, it was such a big deal that everyone was freaking out because it was so fucking hot, and there were even people falling down from sunstroke one after another.
As I stood on the deck and watched the residents of Iberica waving at us as we walked away, Libre’s captain, Ludovic Duheng, whom I had not seen in a long time, said jokingly.
“Haha, it looks like Iberica is amazing. “Everyone’s skin color has changed.”
“The weather is quite different from Francia. “Are you surprised?”
When I smiled and answered, Duheng nodded and said.
“Yes, I was quite surprised to see that everyone had bronzed skin. “I thought they were burning Iberians, not Frangians, haha!”
I know.
As a result of fighting hard under the scorching sun of Iberica, we all have brown skin, although not as much as Shandra’s.
“Skin color is not a big deal. Ah, but unlike Bilbao, it was nice to be able to properly show off the Franzian fleet thanks to boarding at the large port of Porto. “Everyone was amazed.”
The port of Porto was large enough that the entire Franzian fleet could dock there, compared to the small ports of Bilbao that had to be ported in and out in turns.
Five ships of the line, including the huge flagship Libre, and dozens of frigate sloops that followed as escorts.
Thanks to the fact that more than half of Francia’s navy was brought in for the withdrawal of the Iberica Expeditionary Force, the Iberica brothers, who did not yet have a decent navy, seemed to be quite impressed.
Even Crocs, who was usually just laughing heartily, opened his mouth and looked envious, so he said everything.
“By the way, it looks like Libre’s appearance has changed a bit? “It’s a new ship, but has it already been renovated?”
I didn’t know until now.
That I should never have brought this topic up.
Captain Ludovic Duheng, who had the impression of a good-natured person, as soon as he heard me, his eyes lit up strangely, and he started talking at an incredible speed, as if he had been waiting.
“As expected, Marquis de Lafayette! Your insight and insight as the Commander-in-Chief of the Army are nowhere to be seen! Even so, I was secretly disappointed that no one in the army recognized this wonderful change!
Thank you! The pride of the French Navy, Admiral Aquitaine’s flagship Libre, has received significant improvements! This is none other than the achievement of His Excellency Admiral Aquitaine, who has been promoting exchanges with the magic kingdom of Holland. Libre was equipped with a magic engineering engine to not only create a barrier to protect the hull, but also to use magic power during a naval battle in the event of a naval battle. By further accelerating the speed, agile fighter maneuver is possible! If that were all, I would be disappointed! The 86 cannons were also equipped with magic auxiliary devices-”
…Honestly, I don’t understand half of what they are saying.
However, the captain was busy talking enthusiastically and boasting about Libre’s incredible performance, holding on to me whether I understood it or not, and contrary to my earnest wish, Christine, who was supposed to take him away, did not appear on deck until the end.
* * *
Duheng’s boasting about his libre stopped only after he had been talking for about two hours and was about to leave my mouth.
To be precise, he was going to do more, but the helmsman took him away and freed me.
…I should at least give that friend a gift later.
I somehow managed to pull my dazed mind and body, which was worried about getting motion sick, and headed to the admiral’s room.
“It’s me, Christine.”
Only after knocking did I hear the voice I had longed to hear.
“Come on in.”
When I opened the door and entered, Christine was sitting at the desk and was busy checking the documents piled up on the desk.
…He even glanced at my face and then lowered his gaze back to the documents.
Come to think of it, I landed briefly earlier and briefly greeted Crocs and chatted with him, but he only glanced in my direction a few times.
It’s been over a year since we’ve barely met, and it’s not even anyone else, but Christine, who is doing this to me.
Feeling sad inside, I approached the desk where she was sitting, and Christine opened her mouth.
“long time no see. “I’m glad you’re safe, Pierre.”
“Iknow, right. “It’s been a while, Christine.”
When I answered, Christine thumped the documents she was organizing, organized them, and handed them to me.
“It is a report summarizing the political issues that have occurred in Lumière and the diplomatic achievements achieved by Governor Talleyrand in the Eastern Empire.”
“Oh, thank you.”
I quickly scanned the documents Christine handed me.
Passed the expanded implementation of the national open disease system.
It states that a total of 240,000 reserve forces have completed basic military training under the command of Louis Desget, acting commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Army.
…It looks like we’ve somehow managed to secure the basic forces to fight back against Krafte.
If we do this, we may not know the quality, but at least we won’t be pushed out of the military.
Talleyrand was a masterpiece, and although we don’t know what he did, it is said that he stayed in the Eastern Empire for almost half a year and received an honorary baron title from the Tsar.
Perhaps thanks to Talleyrand’s sincerity, the Tsar of the Eastern Empire, who initially gave a bewildered response to joining the country, recognized Franzia as an ally and trade began.
If this continues, the introduction of their artillery technology, which I ordered only half-jokingly, wouldn’t be a dream, right?
That’s amazing, that’s amazing, Talleyrand. Should we call our match a draw again?
The report was full of other miscellaneous political issues, but honestly, I didn’t pay much attention to them.
“…Um Christine?”
“Yes Pierre.”
“…Is this all?”
Christine lifted her gaze from the documents she was processing, looked at me with silent eyes, blinked slowly, and opened her mouth.
“ah.”
Then he took out his pocket and handed me a pill.
What is this? Is this really a contraceptive pill? It’s good for me, but…
Aside from that, Christine’s expression was so plain that I was a little embarrassed, but I just took it and swallowed it.
But then Christine went back to paperwork.
At this point, I also started to feel dizzy.
“…Christine?”
“Yes Pierre.”
“What did you just give me?”
“It’s motion sickness medication.”
“….”
As I stood there speechless, Christine slowly raised her head and looked at me and said.
“I heard that you are very prone to motion sickness, so I ordered it from Holland and made it for you. “I heard the clinical trial results were pretty good.”
“That’s right… thank you…”
This is…
something I should be thankful for.
I think it’s right to be thankful, but I can’t shake the feeling of despair.
Christine seemed to have noticed my expression, too, as she slowly tilted her head and asked me a question with a calm expression on her face.
“…What were you thinking?”
This is this.
It’s intentional. It must be intentional.
I immediately hugged Christine’s shoulder and pressed my lips together, then
stopped right in front of her nose and waited quietly.
I almost burst out laughing when I saw Christine, who had closed her eyes tightly, get tired of waiting and slowly open one eye to look at me.
Still, as I was holding back hard and glaring at her with a slightly angry expression, Christine opened her mouth.
“…don’t you?”
“Is this what you wanted me to do?”
“….”
Christine lost the expression she had been talking about just a moment ago, rolled her eyes here and there with a slightly red face, and then slightly twisted her head to avoid my gaze and said,
“…Now that I think about it, it seems like I’m the only one anxious when you’re always free, so I’m a little upset.”
The kiss was long enough to fill the longing.
As soon as I fell because I was persistently eating her breath, I hugged Christine, who was out of breath –
“I was wrong. “I feel like I did something very wrong.”
As I whispered, Christine’s shoulders trembled.
“I will show you with all my heart and passion how much I am anxious. … So that you never feel that way again.”
There is plenty of time until we arrive at Franzia.
* * *
Magical Kingdom Holland Magic Tower.
Louis Daquiten, now 16 years old, was riding in a carriage heading to Francia.
Louis, dressed in a stylish wizard’s robe, has a badge from the Magic Tower hanging on his chest.
A badge proving that you have graduated from Magic Tower’s beginner course.
Proof that his ability was recognized after leaving Francia at the age of 11 and working hard for over 5 years.
An achievement achieved not by Louis of Aquitaine nor by Yvonne’s son, but by the efforts of Louis himself.
Louis felt pride welling up in his heart and recalled the conversation he had with the old tower owner before leaving the magic tower.
-Are you really planning to return to Franzia? I highly value your efforts and persistence in graduating from the beginner course early, but you still have a long way to go as a wizard. It would be a pity for us to just let a promising student like you go.
-Thank you for your high evaluation, Topju. It is an honor just to have someone so called a wise person give me such an undeserved review. However, even though I have become a full-fledged wizard, I cannot pretend to be unaware of my country’s war.
-What value is there in a war between philistine countries? Don’t you know the history of the ‘Witch of the Storm’? Your talent is a waste. If I had walked the path of magic a little earlier, I would have been able to achieve much better results, but I am leaving without being able to push forward any further. Ah, tsk tsk…
-Hahaha…
-So you’re going to help your half-sister?
-…yes.
-I know that the relationship between you and your sister is quite different from what is said in the public, as your sister has helped you knowingly and unknowingly. But even so, you are not normal if you throw away your freedom and bright future and crawl into a place full of people who will hate you.
-I guess I’m from Aquitaine too. Tower owner.
-Eh, tsk. Okay, go go. I can already see how the children who followed you around will be sad that you are gone. Anyway, you only have a flashy face and talent, so what can you do if you succeed? The thoughts in my head are not normal.
-Haha, sorry, Top Owner. Then I’ll just leave. … Thank you so much.
Louis chuckled as he recalled the way the flirty top owner was waving his hand as if telling him to hurry up and go.
He also felt a little sad that he was already leaving the magic tower that gave him freedom during his suffocating childhood.
However, Louis Daquiten knows well whose favor this freedom, which would have never been allowed in the first place, came from.
Even if he was talented in magic, if it weren’t for his sister’s donation, there was no way the magic tower would have accepted him since he was already too old to enter.
When his close friends at the Magic Tower told him that he was going back to his half-sister, they all told him he was crazy, but if he used a human mask, wouldn’t it be natural to return the favor?
At least Lewis didn’t want to be like his dead mother.
While I was so lost in thought.
A popping
sound was heard.
“uh?”
While Lewis was panicking, the carriage that had been following the road began to run wild.
“Damn coachman! What happened- Wow!”
Lewis looked into the coachman’s seat and could see the coachman’s body, with an arrow stuck in his neck, tilting and tumbling to the floor.
And the sight of horses running wild and excited, pulling the carriage down the hill.
“Oh my god!”
A tremendous noise and shock hit Lewis.
* * *
“Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu…”
she she herself her her she herself her she her herself she herself her she her she herself out of from the wreckage of the completely wrecked and smashed carriage.
And immediately, he urgently deployed a magic barrier to block the arrows flying at him.
“Huh huh…. “What are you guys doing?”
There is no answer.
The assailants dressed in black pulled out their swords.
‘damn…!’
Was it a mistake to choose the land route instead of the sea route because I didn’t want to encounter the top of Aquitaine?
Who sent it?
There are so many places to point out that I don’t even have a clue.
There are probably quite a few people who have a grudge against their sister.
Rather, there are those who would like to get rid of Lewis because he is loyal to his sister.
…either that or maybe.
Did his sister change her mind?
The moment when Lewis gritted his teeth and gathered his magic power.
The man who jumped from the hill cut down the assassin who was running toward Lewis with a single sword.
“Huh?”
While Lewis was panicking, the man who had knocked away another assassin’s sword turned his back and grinned at Lewis.
“This looks difficult. “A wizard I don’t know who he is.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m an idle mercenary passing by. Depending on what you do, you may become a mercenary for the wizard.”
Even as the man said that, he blocked the assassins’ attacks with flawless skill and raised his hand to draw a circle.
“Do you have any thoughts? “I’m a bit expensive, but if you give me money, I’m sure I’ll get the job done.”
Like a mercenary, he wears rough clothes and speaks.
However, Louis somehow felt an aristocratic feeling from him.
The worry was short-lived.
“I’ll hire you! I am the second son of the Aquitaine family, Louis D’Aquitaine! “I have enough money!”
“Oh – Aquitaine. In Aquitaine, credit is certain. This was a big deal. “I’ve been doing nothing these days, but am I getting this lucky here?”
The man instantly changed his stance from just blocking attacks to cutting down the oncoming assassin and grinning.
“Okay then, the deal is done! You can’t say anything else later!”
