Episode 120 War to Protect the Revolution – Krafte (2)
I left the revolutionary army in the hands of Desais and Mirbeau and returned to the capital, Lumière.
We need to prevent Krafte from participating in the war, but what can we do if their great king himself pointed me out?
I have no choice but to go with the regrettable one.
As the commander-in-chief of the revolutionary army, I cannot go to Krafte via the land route of the empire at war, so I have to take a ship from Francia.
As I live, I often have to take a ship to the northern part of the empire.
When I returned to the capital, I heard news I had never even thought of.
“…Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. So you’re an admiral? you?”
What’s going on?
I was confused, but Christine actually took a sip of black tea, nodded calmly, and answered in a calm manner.
“So it happened.”
Originally, the navy of the Kingdom of Francia was managed in Brittany, where the largest military port was located.
And the Duke of Brittany was killed while fighting during the civil war, and immediately after that, the revolution broke out and the Duchy of Brittany was the first region to be swept up in the revolution.
In the madness of the early days of the revolution, there were no naval officers left, so the French Navy was almost created from scratch.
It’s good up to that point.
Why did it fall to Christine?
“No… how?”
Christine took another sip of tea in a relaxed manner and answered.
“Who oversaw the warship construction process?”
“…the top of Aquitaine.”
“Where in this country operates the largest fleet?”
“…Aquitaine.”
“Is there anyone among the high-ranking people of this Franzia who has sailed as much as I have?”
“…I guess not.”
“Yes, that’s why I took charge of it.”
When I think about it this way, I wonder why I didn’t think of her, so she’s the right person for the job…
Anyway, as far as Christine’s abilities go, there are plenty of people who will find fault with her just because she’s a young woman in her 20s.
Even in the central party, there are cases where older nobles do not like her.
“I don’t think the Revolutionary Party or the Liberal Party would have stayed quiet. How on earth is that?”
Meanwhile, I am also the commander-in-chief of the army, and if the central party were to say that they would take over the navy as well, they would have been foaming at the mouth.
“We had an open mock war with the people they recommended.”
“….”
“The expressions on the faces of the leaders of the Revolutionary Party and the Liberal Party were worth seeing.”
As Christine said that, the corners of her mouth slowly twitched.
indeed.
Christine is never tolerant of those who touch her pride.
Those who dreamed of becoming admirals would have been put to shame.
I looked at her with complicated feelings.
This….
“You’re wondering whether I should congratulate you or stop you.”
“When did you start learning mind reading?”
Christine smiled and said.
“I’m sorry I decided without telling you anything.”
“…No, that’s your job.”
Just as I don’t need to get permission from her to do everything I do as the commander-in-chief of the revolutionary army, she doesn’t need to get permission for everything she does.
“then?”
Christine asked with a somewhat happy expression.
…Why does anyone know everything?
“If a naval battle were to break out, you would be in danger, so I would like to stop you, but I don’t have the right to do that.”
I knew that Christine had quite a bit of military wealth.
Even though it was right after he was defeated by me, he was able to unilaterally overwhelm Damien de Mirbeau.
When I actually used it, considering that Damien de Mirbeau had quite useful abilities, Christine had the ability to be entrusted with an army even by the standards of the revolutionary army.
Nevertheless, the reason I did not let her join the revolutionary army was partly because she had other things she could do better and partly because I did not want her to be exposed to danger on the battlefield.
In the army, there are enough people other than me and her who can do well anyway.
That’s true if you’re in the army.
It’s not like I can replace her in the Navy, and as Christine said, since she has publicly proven that she is the most qualified person, it would just be selfish of me to stop her here.
I sighed softly, adjusted my expression, and opened my mouth.
“…I can’t stop you as I always take risks and jump to the front. “Congratulations, Christine, on becoming Admiral of the French Navy.”
Only then did Christine smile, her eyes widening.
“Thank you, Pierre. … Are you aware?”
I slowly avoided her gaze, cleared my throat, and opened my mouth.
“Then, Admiral. What about the ferry to Krafte?”
“86-gun battleship ‘Libre’. I made it for the admiral’s flagship, and this time I’ll lend it to you. The commander-in-chief of the revolutionary army is going on behalf of Francia, so the lineup should be that much, right? Of course, the escort fleet will follow.”
“It’s quite a luxurious treat.”
“It’s better to use what you have. “It also has the meaning of properly warning the Northern United Kingdom to prevent them from having other thoughts.”
A visit to Krafte aboard a newly completed new battleship.
“But am I the only one going?”
“yes. “Didn’t you hear?”
“I heard it, but it’s a bit surprising that it’s not the same as Tale.”
“Ah…”
Christine slowly tilted her head and smiled.
“It looks like you have a heartache.”
“…disposition? “That gentleman?”
“I was looking for a self-proclaimed experienced captain who fits the ideology of the Revolutionary Party and talked about a navy for the citizens, but he was cruelly broken by me, and although he is an expert in diplomacy, Krafte refused to visit him and pointed the finger at you directly.”
So, basically.
They wanted the Navy to be theirs, but they lost it after being publicly shamed and their diplomatic duties were handed over to me, so they got angry and sabotaged their work.
“Anyway, he’s a strange guy.”
“I have a unique sensitivity. So, it might be possible to become friends with dwarves.”
I sighed lightly.
Visit Krafte by boat. Including the round trip and stay period, it would take about a month, right? Go it alone.
I looked at Christine out of disappointment.
If we go together-
“Do you want to go together?”
Christine asked naturally and I almost nodded without realizing it, then placed my hand on my forehead.
That’s why I want to go with you.
Since he just happened to be a Navy admiral, it would have been nice for the two of us to go on a trip without a reason.
It would be nice, but…
I suppressed my unwillingness and opened my mouth.
“I’m very attracted to it, but if we both leave Franzia, we won’t be able to deal with an emergency, so there’s nothing we can do.”
Even if I am not there, there is Deze and Werther to assist him.
What about Mirbo? Although it may not be very reliable, it does its job well.
However, if Christine is absent, not only will it become difficult to respond to political trends in the capital, but it is also impossible to guarantee whether supply will be managed without disruption in the unlikely event that the revolutionary army engages in combat.
Christine laughed heartily after hearing my answer.
“That’s correct.”
“yes?”
“If I had thoughtlessly asked you to go with me, I would have been disappointed. If I had firmly told you to stay, I would have been disappointed.”
“Haha, that’s a good thing.”
I smiled and got up from my seat and went to sit down next to Christine, and she leaned slightly towards me.
Since I have to travel a long way, I should spend enough time with her before I leave.
Krafte, even if you think about it slowly –
While I was thinking that, Christine whispered softly in my ear.
“…Are you going to sleep? “Because it’s safe today.”
The thoughts in my head flew out in an instant.
* * *
Kingdom of Krafte, northern part of the Germanian Empire.
A palace built by Charles II the Great on the outskirts of the capital city of Mittelburg.
Bael, the CEO of Abyss Corporation Pride, and Barbatos, the CEO of Ras, were heading to a shabby building with only a vast military parade ground spread out around it.
More than a thousand troops are lined up at the parade ground, guarding the path they pass.
Barbatos, seeing the soldiers moving beyond order and as if they were machines rather than humans, licked the corner of his mouth with his tongue.
“An overwhelming qualitative gap in relative evaluation with the imperial army. “I want to go to war.”
“I dismiss, Barbatos.”
Bael and Barbatos entered the building, having the same conversation as always, and were guided by an attendant into the room where Cecilia had faced the king.
“His Majesty, the CEO of Abyss Corporation Pride Company and Ras Company has arrived.”
The Great King, who was standing on the balcony with both hands resting on his cane and looking down at the troops moving in an orderly manner filling the parade ground outside the window, slowly turned his back.
“Welcome. Demons. “The Great King of the Kingdom of Krafte and Margrave Charles II welcome you.”
“Bael, the CEO of Abyss Corporation ‘Pride’, is King Charles II of Insadrio Crafte.”
“Greetings from Barbatos, CEO of Abyss Corporation ‘Las’!”
Charles II laughed, twisting the corners of his mouth, and Bael opened his mouth with his characteristic blunt expression.
“As we informed you in advance, we would like to provide financial and equipment support if your country goes to war with Franzia. Those of you who accepted the meeting-”
“Shh.”
Before Bael could finish speaking, the Great King put his finger to his mouth.
When Bael closed his mouth, King Karl II pretended to put his hand to his ear and asked:
“Can’t you hear this sound?”
Bael narrowed his eyes and Barbatos whipped his head around and opened his mouth.
“What? What is it? “What do you hear?”
The white-haired great king smiled and opened his mouth.
“I can hear the battle of his life and the last coming.”
“Oh, CEO Bon also likes war! Even the great king seems to like war!”
Bael, who had remained silent, leaving Barbatos alone in excitement, opened his mouth.
“Yes, your majesty. “The war with Francia is approaching, so our party is-”
However, the great king raised his hand again to interrupt Bael’s words, turned his back on him, raised his staff, and struck the railing of the balcony.
The sound of a cane, also made of metal, hitting the railing, which was also made of metal, rang out.
And just a few seconds later, gunfire rang out.
A series of explosions rang out, threatening to cover the entire palace, as if they had been waiting for the king to make a sound in advance.
The gunfire erupted sequentially and regularly without a single error, continuing for almost 30 seconds.
Long and loud enough to drown out Barbatos’ excited shouting.
The great king, who seemed to be feeling the rhythm, waved his staff like a baton, and the gunfire stopped precisely, as if it had stopped at his signal.
The great king turned his back again and opened his mouth smiling at the demons.
“It’s war, devil. “The war I was looking forward to.”
Bael no longer spoke of his business.
“It is not a trivial war to trample on an easy enemy and gain insignificant interests, but a glorious war against a strong man who will not be ashamed of the prestige he has built.”
The great king also did not wait for the devil to speak. He slammed the staff he was holding on the floor and held it with both hands.
The white-haired old man, over 60 years old, smiled brightly after making a sharp and powerful movement.
“The fact that Jim accepted your meeting means nothing else. Demons, don’t you dare get involved in this war.”
The great king who leads humanity’s most elite army.
“This is my war and it is solely my glory. “If I win, the glory will be added to me. If I lose, the winner will be named the strongest of mankind.”
A living human legend warns the descendants of the devil.
“There is no place for demons anywhere on that battlefield. “If you want to take a place in my war…”
The High King laughed, raising his staff and aiming it at Bael.
“Will you devils compete with me?”
Barbatos was trembled.
“Bael Bael Bael! War war war permit! This is war! “It’s a real war!”
Bael came to a conclusion after analyzing it calmly.
“…dismissed Barbatos. The expected loss is beyond the manageable range.”
After hearing Bael’s words, the Great King slammed his staff on the floor again and rested his hand on it.
“If you are not going to give me a glorious war, then just leave.”
He then turned his back and headed towards the balcony, adding:
“I will wait for someone who will bring glorious war to this land.”
