Episode 221 Crusade of the Abyss – The Longest Week (3)
There was almost no delay between decision and execution.
The soldiers were already at their limit and we were desperate for a decision and a change in the situation in some way.
The decision was made exactly as I said at the meeting, and we went out into the fog, taking only the measure of allowing the last sentry troops to rest for a while.
We changed our strategy so far and took action the same day.
I expected to see at least one encounter with an enemy that rained rockets with such rapid action.
In this way, once they understand their true nature and achieve the first victory, even if it is only a small one, the soldiers will let go of their anger and gain hope.
However, despite our expectations, we explored the fog for a long time and did not encounter anything.
Even the veterans of the revolutionary army, who had high spirits, simply returned from exploring as if wandering through the humid, gloomy purple sky and thick fog, and laid down exhausted after seeing the armies of the Empire of Germania and the Kingdom of Krafte take turns marching out.
Without being able to do anything about my frustration, I called the most capable commanders in the revolutionary army to the command barracks.
“What do you think, Commander Mirbo?”
“Yes yes? “What, how…”
Even his attitude, which I would have thought was normal for him to be like this, makes me irritated.
“…They were continuously bombarding us with rockets. But what can we do to prevent us from even encountering them when we switch to patrol mode?”
“I know that too…”
“Ha…”
I’m a fool for expecting anything from Damien.
“…Nichola, your general. “What do you think, General?”
“I’m sorry, but I wonder if they can see through the fog…”
They look through the fog.
The devil’s magic power is purple.
Coincidentally, this fog is also purple. If it’s true, there’s no situation like this where there’s no answer.
I was so dumbfounded that I could only lament and point to Giselle Darby, who was behind him.
“Lieutenant Colonel Darby.”
“Your Excellency the Old Marquis!”
He pointed out the staff under his command instead of the commander, but Damien’s expression of relief that his turn was over only adds to my annoyance.
“What do you think?”
Giselle hesitated a little, looked at Nicolae’s eyes, and when she saw my expression, she straightened her posture and answered.
“I assume demons don’t see through the fog!”
“The reason is?”
“It’s the precision, time lag and action of a rocket bombing. If they could see through the fog, the rocket bombing had to be more precise, and they had to be more frequent because they would be able to observe us disengaging our alert posture. The behavior of withdrawing immediately when our artillery fire begins means that they can also understand the precision of our artillery fire. “It means you can’t do it.”
Only then did I feel a little better.
I was just guessing, but hearing it from the mouth of a trustworthy subordinate adds a little more confidence.
“Yes, that makes sense. Nicola, do you agree with General Darby’s opinion?”
“I see…”
Nicola nodded, although she was hesitant, and Mirbo nodded so hard that he was afraid of receiving attention.
“But the problem still remains. “Unless they can see through the fog, how can they change their behavior so quickly to match ours?”
“I apologize, Your Excellency the Marquis. As of now, there is not enough material to make a judgment, so…” I
wasn’t expecting much, but I felt frustrated when even Giselle Darby couldn’t come up with a satisfactory answer.
Did you anticipate my actions?
They said they were expecting that we would be conducting patrol activities in the fog immediately after being hit by four bombing raids at intervals of time, so they left…
If such a thing is possible, it means that the enemy commander is dancing completely on top of my head.
Does that make sense?
Or is it actually that I am so incompetent that I am being completely played by the devils, but am I the only one who can’t admit it?
I lamented and saw the dark fatigue around the eyes of Mirbo, Ne, and Dabi.
This isn’t something that can be solved by holding on to them.
“okay. I still don’t know why, but at least the soldiers waiting will be able to rest for a while while patrol activities continue. Just disband. “You should also rest.”
“ancient!”
It’s truly a daunting battle.
* * *
I went to bed, but even when I closed my eyes, I could not rest comfortably.
…Maybe I made a reckless decision.
Even fighting against demons on the continent was not easy, so is it possible to win against demons on this island, the enemy’s base?
I was prepared to struggle, but I didn’t expect to end up suffering in such a helpless state.
How on earth can we overcome this predicament?
If Christine were here, would she have lent me wisdom I hadn’t thought of?
If Eris were here, would she have been able to give hope to the soldiers even in this situation?
If it’s Raphael Balian. If you are the king of Krafte. How could you have responded in this situation?
While thoughts run wild between thoughts.
I suddenly opened my eyes and felt a familiar hazy sensation.
I suddenly come to a realization and naturally burst into laughter.
“…Damn, I didn’t think of that. “I understand very well how you are playing a trick on us.”
A self-mocking smile naturally comes out.
Demons don’t need to see through the fog.
There is no need to scout or move to prepare for us.
because.
“Because all humans sleep, think, and have desires.”
The succubus dressed as a nun standing in front of me spoke softly.
Ha…
yeah.
The premise was wrong from the beginning.
How many succubi are there in the Abyss Corporation? I’m not sure, but at least Gremory won’t be alone.
Those countless succubi are melting into our dreams and reading our unconscious…
What is the use of tactics and strategies?
This is no different from leaking military secrets without even realizing it.
I raised my hand and touched my forehead.
“You didn’t leave the island, Gremory.”
Gremory looked at me with golden eyes and smiled vaguely before answering.
“I appreciate your generous offer, but the Marquis does not have the ability to annihilate the Abyss Corporation.”
Well said.
We have already landed on this island and established a beachhead.
…I briefly thought about bragging like that, but it would probably be pointless.
“Yes, you guys are not easy. so? “What brought you to see me?”
Gremory was silent for a moment and then opened his mouth.
“The one dealing with the Marquis is Paimon.”
“Oh yeah. I wondered how that would happen, but it’s a shame that the damn Red Devil wasn’t purged. “It would have been nice if you had died because you passed the buck.”
Gremory chuckled and laughed a little, then immediately changed his expression and spoke.
“Please step aside, Marquis.”
“You came all the way here? These are people who came even though they knew that this was a mission bordering on suicide. “You probably know that we can’t back down.”
Gremory responded with a bitter smile.
“Constructing the gate will actually bring about the worst destruction on the central continent.”
…It means we already know what we are doing and what we are aiming for.
Maybe the rocket hitting the door under construction wasn’t just a lucky coincidence, but maybe that was the goal all along.
But is building a gate actually the worst ruin?
An uneasy feeling comes over me. The door was developed by analyzing parts obtained from the gates of the Eastern Empire built by demons.
A hope that Archduke Elsion and the armies of the Eastern Empire achieved through their hard work.
But what if that was the devil’s intention?
The suspicion rears its head that the only hope we are currently clinging to may not actually be hope.
How much can you trust Gremory?
No, even if you believe it.
I let out a self-deprecating smile.
“Let’s say I believe your words and step down. Let’s say I take responsibility for the failure of this expedition and save the remaining people by being kicked out. “After the Eastern Empire collapsed and you gained infinite drones, will you leave the Central Continent alone?”
Gremory paused for a moment, but then answered calmly.
“I will try.”
“I expected the devil’s mercy, and I threw away my first opportunity in 400 years and retreated. At least the demons I know are definitely not a group that can sit still even if they have as much power as possible. is not it?”
“At least the Marquis may be given enough time to enjoy a generation of peace with those he cherishes. … I’m not sure how different this proposal is from the Marquis’s suggestion that I take those in charge of my duties and leave the island.”
Gremory’s last words were so poignant that I burst out laughing.
I don’t know why I forgot about this until now.
I didn’t fight because I thought I could always win.
To save Christine my world. I do my best until the moment I run out of breath. That was all.
“okay. I apologize, Gremory. And I will refuse. “For the same reason you never left this island.”
I was curious to see what kind of expression Gremory would make – and
Gremory completely shattered my expectations by smiling softly, as if looking at a loved one.
“Marquis de Lafayette. “If you don’t mind, may I bless the Marquis?”
I noticed that there was a sword at my waist and asked while putting my hand on the sword.
“What if I cut you down in the dream world?”
Gremory smiled once again and answered in an extremely casual tone.
“If the mind dies, the body dies too.”
“…If you don’t mind it being like this.”
Gremory smiled and approached me, ready to draw his sword at any moment, and lightly stretched out his hand toward my forehead.
The succubus, who was watching the movements of me and my soldiers and reporting to the enemy, did not emit the devil’s characteristic purple magical power.
Maybe I knew it wouldn’t happen.
According to my claim, the half-succubus, a saint from 400 years ago, just radiated golden divine power and then walked away from me, smiled, and opened her mouth.
“I love those who long for the impossible, Marquis de Lafayette.”
“It’s a pity, but my love is a single room.”
Gremory chuckled, wondering what was so funny, and then looked at me with calm eyes.
What kind of eyes are those?
I had a strange feeling of déjà vu.
I’ve seen eyes like this somewhere before, but I can’t remember them.
said the devil.
“May God bless the Marquis.”
I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t answer properly.
“…what the fuck should I say to you…?”
Gremory smiled and then disappeared in a blur.
I added just before she disappeared completely.
“…I hope God’s protection is upon you too.”
My consciousness was scattered and I couldn’t tell if Gremory had heard me.
* * *
“Your Excellency the Marquis de Lafayette.”
“hmm.”
I woke up to my lieutenant calling me.
“I’m sorry you’re sleeping soundly, but it’s time to go.”
I feel that my head, which was cloudy and anxious due to fatigue, has cleared.
I don’t know how long it’s been since I had a good night’s sleep.
Only when my body started to feel energized and my head began to work smoothly did I smile at my adjutant and open my mouth.
“Thank you, Major Vachet. “It’s quite a luxury that you, who played an active part in the Krafte battle, are my lieutenant.”
Jose Vachet.
The man who cut down the drone that was his family in Iberica with his own hands and was taken prisoner in the Krafte army’s ambush blinked his eyes and then smiled.
“I’m honored that you remember me. Honestly… I was secretly looking forward to it when I was first assigned as an adjutant.”
From my perspective, he was just one of many subordinates, but he couldn’t have forgotten me.
When he first arrived as my adjutant, my mind was so full of thoughts and pressure that I couldn’t recognize him.
Maybe it was the influence of this damn island, but…
“Yeah, I guess I was disappointed. I’m sorry. “Now I feel like my eyes are opening up a bit.”
I tapped Vachet on the shoulder and asked as I stood up.
“What do the Imperial and Krafte forces say happened?”
“No, they say there were no significant encounters until the last messenger.”
“Okay then, tell it to Commander Mirbo. There will be a battle during this reconnaissance, so be as prepared as possible.”
“yes?”
Baschet looked confused, so I added with a chuckle.
“Call it Lafayette’s Persimmon.”
“Oh, I understand.”
They were aware of our situation through the succubi.
When we first deployed because we couldn’t withstand the rocket bombing, we probably only knew that we had changed our behavior, so we must have been unprepared.
However, it did not move while the Imperial and Krafte forces arrived.
Now I know it’s my turn to move again, and my opponent is Paimon.
Paimon knows me and I know Paimon.
I clenched my fists, feeling the divine power flowing through my body.
He comes to see me.
certainly.
