Episode 222 The Crusade of the Abyss – The Longest Week (4)
An attack will occur during patrol activities.
I sent Vachet out based on just my intuition, but Damien de Mirbeau’s reaction was beyond imagination.
Because he was running towards me in a huff and asking about unconventional measures.
“Shouldn’t we wake up the Imperial Army and the Krafte Army and take them away?”
“what? “Let’s wake up those who have just finished patrol activities and are about to rest and take them away?”
“But they say there’s an attack coming…”
Why is this guy who was so pessimistic about how we’ll all die until yesterday suddenly be like this?
It’s even weirder that he suddenly seems motivated and trusts me so suspiciously.
“…There’s no basis for it, but do you believe that?”
I was so dumbfounded that I asked, and Damien nodded and answered with a very serious face.
“You lowly Damien de Mirbeau has finally realized! Usually, if I don’t understand what the Marquis said, the Marquis is right! So, this time too, His Excellency the Marquis had a plan, didn’t he?”
“….”
No, there wasn’t one.
I almost answered like that.
What kind of bizarre belief is this?
My expression became astonished, but Damien pounded his chest with his fist and spoke.
“Please leave whatever mission you have, Your Excellency, Marquis de Lafayette! In order to survive in the worst situation, first empty your mind and follow His Excellency. anyway! I believe in you, His Excellency the Marquis!
I quietly placed my hand on my forehead.
Oh yeah. Let’s think positively.
If you objected to it by saying it was ridiculous, it would have been more of a headache. It wouldn’t be a bad thing if the guy who was shaking with fear became hopeful and motivated.
“good. I’ll give you orders along the way, so handle them without any gaps. As for the Imperial and Krafte forces… let them rest for now. “If you ask me to go out again without any basis, I will start complaining.”
Damien de Mirbeau nodded enthusiastically, then clenched his fists and shouted.
“You idiots who still lack faith in His Excellency the Marquis de Lafayette! “It takes me three times to come to my senses!”
No, honestly, I wish they would stop because this one looks even more stupid…
* * *
The Germanian Empire Army and Krafte Kingdom Army, who returned from patrol activities, rested and prepared with only the minimum number of guard soldiers, and the French Revolutionary Army and Iberica The Brotherhood and the Holy Knights took turns going out for patrol activities.
Soldiers are conducting patrols in thick fog with faces full of tension.
Damien de Mirbeau, who has suspiciously strong faith in me, will follow my instructions anyway, and Giselle Darby will make up for any shortcomings.
There is also Nicola who will show his bravery even in unexpected situations.
When I hinted at this to Crocs, he said he understood, even though he looked skeptical. The Iberica Brotherhood absolutely obeys Crocs, so everything will work out.
The problem is the Holy Knights…
I informed Alejandro, but I had a hard time getting him to talk because he persistently asked for the basis.
What should I say?
The saint from 400 years ago, whom you Holy Knights reverence so much, is actually a succubus, and she appeared in a dream and told you?
It would be nice if the Allied Commander-in-Chief didn’t try to burn him as a heretic.
In any case, it is rather difficult to trust the Holy Knights, let alone the revolutionary army or brotherly countries that basically have high trust in me.
I hope this doesn’t become a variable….
The entire time I was conducting patrol activities under a sky covered with purple fog, I was staring at a nearby map that had been completed to some extent through several rounds of reconnaissance and patrol.
Although it is clearly the bright light of the sun at the time, the map looks extremely ominous due to the gloomy purple color coming down through the sky covered with thick fog.
The ingredients were gathered.
Even demons cannot see through the fog.
However, through the succubi, they look into the dreams and unconsciousness of the Allied Forces and respond to us through that.
In other words, my warning that there was a high possibility of an attack during this patrol activity was likely relayed to Paimon through the succubi.
Then won’t you come?
Judging from the tactics Paimon has used so far, it is clear that his intention is to undermine the unity of the Allied Forces.
If I make a fuss here, suspicions about me will grow and the unity of the Allied Forces will be further shaken.
Nevertheless, I am confident that Paimon will come.
It has already been more than a day since the rocket bombing stopped, and in the meantime, our soldiers are getting some rest and getting over the worst.
It would be nice to shake my authority here, but the gate is still being built, and more than anything, Paimon must have been watching the previous two patrols to collect information and prepare for this attack.
They may not yet be convinced that we have identified the information leak through the succubus, so the basis is too weak to withdraw the offensive based solely on the orders I gave.
Above all, if it’s the devil I know.
I frowned, remembering Paimon’s crazy face.
I’m not the type of guy to avoid a fight that could be the deciding factor.
Since he broke me from the front, he will try to get back at me from the front.
More than anything, I have a feeling that he will want to face me in person.
If there is such a moment, it is not the moment when I am at the innermost headquarters in the gate defense battle, but the patrol activity like this is the only opportunity.
So he will definitely come.
And if it comes….
I looked at the topographical map drawn through several patrol activities.
Our patrol route will definitely be taken over by the enemy.
And if the enemy knows our patrol route and even knows when they will come.
Considering the information Paimon has on our side and the weapons they have.
If that’s the case, it’s not difficult to find the optimal location for an ambush.
“Major Vachet.”
“Your Excellency the Old Marquis!”
“All units stop and prepare for battle at a location 1km away from point B, which is delivered to each patrol unit.”
“Huh? If it goes as you said, it won’t take more than 10 minutes. It will take time to deliver the order, but isn’t it okay to get to the destination point B?”
“Go ahead and deliver it like that. “It is urgent.”
“Oh, I understand!”
I shifted my gaze back to the map as I watched Major Vachet hurriedly give instructions to the messengers.
If information is transmitted through a succubus, there is a risk that information may be leaked during the march, even if it is not at the time of departure.
However, since my body is filled with divine power, unless it is a completely exceptional case like Gremory, it would be difficult to infiltrate it.
If so, will I be able to respond in real time to orders given after thinking only about myself until I reach the destination?
Now, it is a fight where each side shows part of the other side’s cards and is deceived.
Let’s see where Paimon can be caught.
* * *
“No, Marquis! Anyway, isn’t it strange that you suddenly change your plans like this without prior discussion?”
“It was unavoidable due to the unique nature of the situation, Director Alejandro.”
“I don’t understand what you mean by that. The Holy Knights must do this-”
Alejandro, who had been talking intently, closed his mouth.
And I also immediately figured out what made him keep quiet.
Piiiiing –
Piiii –
The terrible noise of a rocket flying through the fog, the culprit that prevented us from sleeping properly.
All of a sudden, shouting broke out here and there and the unit panicked – the rockets exploded in a chain of directions in the front line where we were supposed to be heading.
“…Now you know. “Each army is in combat position!”
“Uh uh ah I understand!”
The rocket’s range is very long and its orbit is unstable.
It is a weapon that cannot possibly carry out precision bombing in fog.
The only way to bomb from a safe distance while avoiding friendly fire in the fog is to surprise us with rockets at our arrival point in time for our arrival.
It was correct up to this point.
“All artillery units ready to fire! Light infantry forward! “Clear the view!”
“ancient! “Your Excellency Commander!”
“The Iberian Brotherhood prepares for a surprise attack from the rear! “Drones have no trouble moving even in fog, so respond carefully to attacks from the rear!”
“Okay bro!”
Along with Crocs’ loud reply, their unique battle cry was repeated in unison –
“Follow me, infantry in the line!”
“All artillery ready to fire! “The center of the explosion ahead of the target!”
The unit led by Nicola Ney moves forward while Damien curses and orders preparations for artillery fire.
Chuck –
I hear familiar footsteps. A mechanical, crude, and eerily regular sound of footsteps that cannot be made by a human army.
Chuck-
“Drone approach confirmed!”
“All artillery fire!”
“Fire all guns blazing! “Turn them all into powder!”
The cannons that had been prepared for bombardment in advance opened fire all at once, and the round shells from the direct-firing guns and the explosive shells from the howitzers flew frantically towards the location where the rocket bombardment had just landed.
The regular sound of footsteps is soon drowned out by the noise of artillery fire, explosive shells fired by howitzers explode, and the fog begins to disperse little by little.
“Shoot without stopping! Light infantry prepare for the approach! Widen the gap so as not to block the retreat of the line infantry and light infantry!”
“All right!”
And from where I looked again, the drones began to race furiously.
“Light infantry begins shooting!”
Tatatang –
As the light infantry’s muskets fire in unison, the drones that were charging ahead are knocked down – and while the scouts are taking down the remaining drones with aimed fire, the explosive shells fired by the howitzer explode on the ground, decimating the drones one by one.
“Replace with direct-fire pellet shells!”
“Start replacing shells!”
“The equator will soon adjust the rocket’s aiming point! Prepare for radiation exposure!”
“Oh, I understand!”
The light infantry fired again and ran backwards, falling into the gap between the infantry in the line who had prepared themselves in advance.
“Fire bullets!”
The cannons pour out bullets all at once, shattering the drones chasing them.
“The drone attack has begun behind the Marquis de Lafayette! King Crocs stands against them!”
“Okay, I’ll trust you with the rear. If you need support, ask for it right away!”
“ancient!”
I clenched my fists.
Everything is going smoothly up to this point.
At least in terms of operations, things are going according to my judgment.
The enemy, who made full use of their strengths of rocket artillery and drones, began the battle with a preemptive strike from us rather than taking advantage of surprise.
And now.
Beyond the fog that gradually disperses as the battle becomes chaos, a swarm of drones rushes in, ready to fill the horizon.
The moment when the line infantry fires all at once in the chaos of constant fire pouring down on them and clashes for the first time with the drones that finally arrived.
The sound of horses’ hooves pounding the ground began to echo.
I grinned.
In peacetime, he was just a nuisance, but at this moment, he is our strongest ally.
“I praise you-”
“I praise you-”
The moment when the morale of the soldiers is raised by the shouts of prayers like their symbol instead of the shouts of charging.
I found an extremely familiar silhouette beyond the fog.
Fiery red, long hair.
The incongruity of the beautiful purple dress and the white gown on top.
Paimon…!
The Red Devil greeted me politely in an exaggerated manner, as if he were a human noble.
And that alone.
“Is that author really Paimon?”
“Oh, this is the ugly image of the devil recorded in the temple itself!”
The Holy Knights immediately recognized the demon who had been living for a very long time.
“He is the leader of the devils! Strike the author of the Holy Knights!”
At the same time as Alejandro shouted, the Holy Knights began to rush towards Paimon, not the drones that had clashed with the allies.
“Holy Knights! “Do not change your attack target carelessly!”
I shouted with all my magical power, but I could not reach the Holy Knights who had already surrendered themselves to the heat of fanaticism and rush.
“What the hell are you doing! Send messenger Bashe! “Stop those fools whose brains are filled with faith right now! Isn’t it obvious that this is a trap!”
“Oh, I understand, Your Excellency the Marquis de Lafayette!”
While Jose Vachet was rushing, the wind blew, the fog slowly cleared, and demons were seen behind Paimon, fixing something made of metal for the first time to the ground.
What is that?
A gun made of metal…?
“May your holiness come upon us-”
“His grace sets high the blade of our spear-”
The demons slowly begin to turn cylinders they have never seen before-
“So that we may punish those who have fallen-”
Tu-du-du-du-du-du. –
Bullets began raining down along with a terrible gunshot that I would never forget.
