Episode 215 The Crusade of the Abyss – The First and Last Crusade (3) The
Central Continent Allied Forces gathering place near Brest, a military port in northwest France.
The Central Continent’s allied forces were gathering one after another at the assembly point where the Magic Tower’s Magic Division was in the midst of installing a ‘gate’ to connect to the island.
The advance force for the landing war is a part of the elite army, including the Franzian and Iberian brother countries, the Germanic Empire, the Kingdom of Krafte, and the Holy Knights of the Holy Church. They are already ready to depart, but when the gate is opened, many more troops, as well as the Northern United Kingdom and the Magic Island, are prepared to depart. The kingdom’s army is also dispatched.
This is the place where the huge expeditionary force is lined up ahead of the advance guard’s departure.
“Your Excellency the Marquis.”
“Your Excellency Commander-in-Chief!”
Every time I pass by, they salute or take off their hats to show respect.
The curses, criticism, and jeers I received before returning were already distant and felt like a dream, and only the respect and praise paid to me became a heart-wrenching reality.
I passed through countless people and stood on the podium.
I’ve been here several times already.
Frangian succession to the throne Civil war Revolution War with the Empire War on the Iberian Peninsula Until the war with Krafte.
He led them in numerous battlefields, and each time he encouraged them and sent them into battle.
And now the war is repeated again.
But this time.
Feeling countless eyes on me, I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.
“Gentlemen. Pierre de Lafayette, Commander-in-Chief of the Central Continent Alliance Expeditionary Force, reports. We have gathered to face the threat of the Abyss Corporation demons.
However, I know that there are some among you who remember that we fought and shed blood against each other only a few years ago, and who wonder why we should shed blood on another battlefield.
I know that justice for one’s country means nothing to those of you who have different hometowns and countries. Instead, I ask you to become aware.
400 years. 400 years have passed since the 100-year war in which humanity fought to survive against demons. Humanity survived that war after many sacrifices, but forgot the fight.
I was just happy that I survived and lived my life believing in the coexistence that the devils talked about. The blood shed during the 400 years we spent believing what they said with a smiling face as truth was forgotten, and we raised our weapons against each other.
But gentlemen, we now know the truth. Those demons have thrived in our misfortune. We know that while they are discussing peace and coexistence in the front, they have been inciting discord on the continent and sowing seeds of confusion behind the scenes.
Look what terrible creatures they have made out of the flesh of our fellow countrymen. Not long ago, even such atrocities by demons were dismissed as untrue rumors.
There must have been atrocities that could not be hidden, but do you dare to guess how many of their atrocities must have been unknown during the long 400 years?
Our ancestors, your fathers, and all of you, have been played as puppets of the devil without even realizing it.
Why did this happen? Because we were busy slandering and being hostile to each other.
Why did that happen? This is because they want it and have been encouraging the division of the continent.
If so, how long? How many people must be sacrificed and suffer by them.
forever. Forever, gentlemen.
If we do not stand up at this moment, countless human beings will repeat the same fate forever.
Just as the temple of 400 years ago was forgotten, someday even our pain and anger at this moment will be forgotten in time.
Do you want that, gentlemen?
Do you want a future for your descendants who will live divided and divided under the ridicule of demons who live forever?
If we want our children and their descendants to live as slaves without even knowing that humanity is their slave forever, we can turn our backs on this place and leave.
But if not.
If only we had the resolve to pay for all the indignities and suffering we have suffered so far and to liberate humanity from their eternal wiles.
If so, now is your chance.
For the first time in history, we have the opportunity to set foot on that cursed island of devils.
An opportunity that may possibly be the last lies before our eyes.
Gentlemen, this is war. This is a mission that requires your life to be risked, and survival is not guaranteed.
However, as Commander-in-Chief, I will guarantee one thing.
This war is neither for the monarch nor for the country.
It is not a war in which humanity bleeds each other, but a war in which humans fight against demons to protect humanity.
It is a temple for our freedom and the future our descendants will live in.
Not even a single drop of blood and sweat you will shed will be wasted on the battlefield you will face on the island where the sun never rises.
So, you, the army of humanity, have been shedding blood without even knowing why you are fighting.
Please join this crusade and shed your blood for yourself.
So, in the distant future, when the shadows of demons disappeared from this continent.
Future generations of mankind are fighting our war at this very moment! Let us call it the first and last crusade!”
* * *
The strait between Franzia and the Abyss Corporation.
Deck of the Franzian Navy flagship ‘Libre’.
“Marquis de Lafayette. I have always been very interested in the Marquis’ major and martial arts. I was very disappointed that the Marquis had previously declined to be an honorary member of the Holy Knights. Speaking of which, how about joining the Holy Knights again? “If you are a noble knight like the Marquis, even the Pope will be happy to accept you.”
I was losing my mind thanks to Alejandro, the leader of the Holy Knights, who was constantly talking next to me.
“This is a secret, but there are many people within the Holy Knights who respect you, Marquis. Didn’t you not only personally capture that heinous Halfas and send him to the church, but also have the discernment to recognize Her Majesty the Saint Queen, and above all, didn’t you single-handedly slay Barbatos, the great evil of the ‘Las’ company? “No paladin in history has been able to accomplish this feat alone.”
If you’re going to keep it a secret, I hope you don’t spill it…
Aren’t the Holy Knights reticent because they only train as monks and knights in the corner of their rooms?
I was half-exhausted, listening to Alejandro’s meaningless nonsense, when I saw Libre captain Ludovic Duhong passing by and gesticulated eagerly.
‘Come here captain!’
You also like to talk loudly. Let’s have some fun between the two of us who like to talk. Leave me alone.
However, Duheng pretended to grab his neck with his hand and then raised his hand in an X shape and shook his head.
neck?
Ah, the cross necklace Eris gave me.
…I’m not familiar with religion.
No, I don’t know. I am so close to religion that I would listen to this?
I may be thankful to God and Eris, but I hate the tight-knit fanatics of the Church!
You can’t come here right away!
But Duheng pretended not to see my desperate gesture and ran away.
“What do you think, Marquis de Lafayette? Not only I, but all of my brothers in the Holy Knights are looking forward to the glorious day when we will call the Marquis our brother. Of course, it is only an honorary position. I do not expect to take the Commander-in-Chief of the French Revolutionary Army to the Catholic Church. Oh, of course, I would be more than happy if you would come, hahaha!”
I tried hard to suppress the sigh that was about to burst out, looked at the paladin who had noticed and had no diplomatic trouble, and then opened my mouth.
“It’s an honor for you to say that. “I will also look at it positively.”
“Oh really? “The Holy Father will be very happy!”
Ha yeah.
Let’s try to use what we’re already suffering in a constructive way.
“In that sense, I think there is a need to discuss constructive combined arms cooperation between the Revolutionary Army and the Holy Knights.”
“Are you talking about combined arms cooperation?…”
Alejandro’s voice immediately became shaky.
No, this person is real.
“At least it’s enemy territory. “Shouldn’t we avoid a situation where the cavalry rushes in recklessly and engages without retreating?”
“yes? The paladin retreats from the fight against demons. “No, that’s not true, brother!”
Who’s your brother! I just said I would consider it!
No, more than that.
“On the battlefield, retreating at any time due to tactical necessity-”
“Brother, in chapter 4, verse 12 of the Composition Book, it says: If your faith is firm, with holy grace, there is nothing you cannot accomplish, and you cannot back down in the face of the enemy. All members of the Holy Knights will move forward firmly in the name of Her Majesty the Holy Queen and God, and will crush all enemies in front of them without retreating even an inch.”
…I can’t do it, you bastard.
I’m crazy to even think of engaging in combined arms cooperation with these guys!
As I gaped at the question in bewilderment, Alejandro smiled kindly, perhaps interpreting it in his own way.
“You don’t have to be so shy, brother. We cannot blame someone who has not yet received formal training as a member of the Holy Knights for not knowing the teachings of the Bible. If you learn slowly in the future, you will be able to open your eyes to a new path.”
I would like to decline that path.
…I think I understand why the Pope was so reluctant to send the Holy Knights.
If it were a leader, he would have been someone with political acumen or not, but he would have appointed the most capable person, but if the leader is like this, there is nothing to see.
Of course, there is no need to doubt the strength of these guys as knights, but things like power conservation or strategic thinking are completely absent from their minds.
If he dies bravely while fighting against demons, he is said to be a martyr, and the thought that he might willingly die fighting gives me goosebumps.
I was having a hard time dealing with Alejandro, but luckily my best ally was on this ship.
“Excuse me, Marquis Lafayette, Commander of the Holy Knights.”
“Admiral.”
As soon as Christine appeared, Alejandro lost his casually friendly attitude and took a step back.
I definitely felt that the Holy Knights were burdened by Christine’s very existence.
A young, beautiful woman, a military commander, a merchant they secretly despise, and even a dark influence represented by the confusing title ‘The Black Witch of Aquitaine’.
It has all the elements that the so-called ‘noble monks’ would be reluctant to have.
But if you want to impress me, you can’t even think of not showing off your obvious dislike for Christine.
“I guess I have to ask for your understanding. “We’re having some trouble with the landing operation.”
“hmm? “What’s going on, Christine?”
“The amount of transportation requested by the Holy Knights was larger than the area of the coast of the landing site surveyed in advance. Especially war horses.”
Ah, a warhorse.
Actually, it is not a light cavalry, but a large army that can accommodate 500 knights wearing full plate armor.
They even had a lot of cavalry among their squires, so if it would be easy to land them…
…but there’s no way they couldn’t have calculated that in advance. Not anyone else, but Christine.
Alejandro’s expression changed as if he had chewed something.
“So you’re saying the landing will be delayed?”
“Yes, it seems that the warhorses will take up the most manpower and time to land, so I will inevitably have to give priority to other units before disembarking them.”
“What nonsense is that! No way, for the revolutionary army to land before the Holy Knights-”
Ah, I think I understand Christine’s intention at this point.
“Is that possible, Commander? The Holy Knights will be the first to reach the coast along with the Revolutionary Army. Inevitably, the warhorse will have to be dismounted later. “You can cooperate to this extent, right, Admiral?”
“Of course it’s possible.”
Christine responded quickly, and Alejandro groaned and then bowed his head politely to me.
“Thank you Marquis de Lafayette for your consideration.”
And in the meantime, when I expressed my gratitude to Christine, she smiled and nodded.
Perfect.
Now at least we don’t have to see the Paladins, who are full of muscle and faith even down to their brains, charging in before other units even finish landing.
