I Don’t Need a Guillotine for My Revolution

Chapter 239: 239. Abyssal Holy War – Gazing into the Abyss

239. Abyssal Holy War – When You Gaze Into the Abyss

"Pierre, Pierre, Pierre...!"

Paimon neurotically tore at his hair.

This was not his first defeat at the hands of Pierre de Lafayette.

He had lost in Iberica and had his horn cut off, and he had been defeated again by unexpected reinforcements just before they constructed the gate.

But back then, he had been careless, or he had other cards left to play.

He was confident he would win the next time they faced each other.

Not to mention Iberica, which he hadn't even considered a threat in the first place, and even when he ended up allowing the gate's construction, he still had an overwhelming number of Drones left.

Above all, the defeats he suffered at Pierre's hands had, as a result, worked in Paimon's favor.

But this defeat.This was an offensive launched with the genuine intention of annihilating them all at once.

It was a battle he could not afford to lose, and one he thought he couldn't possibly lose.

They had landed on the island and fought countless times.

He thought he had a sufficient grasp of the enemy's tactics, and indeed, Pierre de Lafayette and the Allied Forces had suffered according to his intentions, driven to the very brink of defeat.

But to think they would pull a move like that the moment they used the Saintess to drive out the Succubi.

As he thought this, Paimon paused.

He had thought that everything since their landing on the island had gone according to his intentions.

That he had thoroughly grasped the enemy's movements through the Succubi, toyed with the Allied Forces, and overwhelmed them.

However...

Had Paimon ever won against Pierre without the help of the Succubi?

The unexpected pincer attack in Iberica.

The raid on his reconnaissance unit being read and turned against him.

Believing he could destroy the gate right before its construction, only to be caught off guard by their reinforcement army.

And now, this battle, lost after thinking he had seen everything the Allied Forces had to offer.

It was as if Pierre was overwhelming him—

Paimon stopped his train of thought there.

No, that's going too far. It can't be.

This was merely a problem caused by situational specificity.

It's a battle fought with one million Drones.

It's impossible to sustain them with the mana of worthless inferior races, so they're being maintained by extracting mana from the already purged demon races.

Repeat this kind of large-scale Drone operation a few more times, and the demon races providing the mana will dry up and die far faster than the Drones are annihilated.

That was why a swift victory was necessary.

Since he had a sufficient grasp of the Allied Forces' strength, he thought he could just push them and win, so he deployed his forces immediately without any special preparation.

Only then did he have a prospect of victory against Baal, by either wiping out the Allied Forces or, at the very least, securing a ceasefire to end the war while obtaining a proper supply of mana extraction material.

Pierre and the Allied Forces resisting fiercely and causing heavy Drone losses was within his expected range, but saving mana was more important than the Drones lost that way.

The result of that impatience was a crushing defeat with immense mana consumption and not even a decent military achievement to show for it.

At this rate, he would have to prepare thoroughly and fight again. That preparation would also involve Drones, so more mana would be consumed.

No matter how many countless Drones he had, they were meaningless without a mana supply.

This was because most biological functions had been carved out of their bodies and replaced with circuits that operate on mana; if the mana supply was cut off, or if they lost their heads which maintained the body and received commands via mana, the Drones would soon lose their form.

With this single defeat, Paimon's possibility of winning against Baal had plummeted, even if he managed to achieve victory over Pierre.

Paimon ground his teeth with a grating sound.

A phantom pain, like heat rising from the horn that had long been severed, seeped in.

Is this obsession? Hatred? Or if not, then.

"Excuse me, Lord Paimon."

Filled with rage, Paimon whipped his gaze around, and a succubus hovering in the empty air with fluttering wings came into view.

Her pale complexion clearly showed just how great a shock they had received in the process of being forcibly ejected from the minds of the Allied Forces by the Saintess's divine protection.

"Most of the sisters have now regained their senses."

What was this succubus's name again?

Was it Leah?

It's not worth remembering.

Pathetic, inefficient, and base creatures, unbecoming of the demon race, who live by parasitizing the emotions and aspirations of inferior races.

"The purpose you requested has been achieved to some extent, Lord Paimon, but further mission execution seems difficult. Therefore, we request permission for the succubus unit to return to Pandemonium and await further orders."

Paimon subtly furrowed his brow.

Come to think of it, wasn't he suffering like this because their leader, Gremory, was scheming in Iberica?

Back then, it was only a suspicion, and since it had ultimately helped in collapsing the Abyss Corporation's system, he had let it go, but now...

"...Lord Paimon?"

Seeing his expression, Leah flinched, and Paimon's already foul mood soured even further.

Their physical ability is inferior, and they're nothing but cowards, beings who can't even survive without the inferior races.

How about I make them contribute a little more efficiently?

As the thought reached that point, Paimon's hand was already gripping Leah's throat before he was even aware of it.

"Ugh, Lor... Lord Paimon?"

"I've been thinking, if you're useless in war anyway, wouldn't it be a better contribution to Abyss Corporation for you to supply mana?"

"Lady Gremory would never permit such a thing!"

"You're mistaken about something, succubus. Does Gremory look like she has the power to protect you?"

A figurehead who, even in this situation, refused to cast her vote in favor of war and is only clinging to her position of CEO by relying on Baal's mercy?

The moment Leah's face turned white and Paimon, seeing it, smiled cruelly.

"You are the one who is mistaken, Paimon. Who gave you the authority to make such a decision?"

An arrogant and resolute voice was heard.

Paimon scrunched up his face and released Leah's neck. The succubus coughed, spun once in the air, and reported to Baal.

"O great CEO of Pride Inc. My sisters and I have carried out our mission as ordered by Abyss Corporation, but we have no remaining strength to continue. I implore you to grant us permission to return."

Baal looked at Leah with indifferent eyes, then slowly nodded his head.

"Permission granted. Return to Gremory."

"...My gratitude for your generous mercy."

Leah flew away immediately, and Paimon clicked his tongue with a 'tsk-'.

"Ha, how very generous of you, Demon King. Or are you only generous to Gremory?"

Paimon jeered, but Baal just chuckled.

"Gremory has not raised a rebellion against me, nor does she have the power to dare challenge me. What reason is there to be harsh with such a person?"

Realizing this was blatant scorn, Paimon ground his teeth, but Baal continued speaking in a relaxed tone.

"Likewise, Paimon. I will not punish you for your pathetic lost battle."

You have not yet raised a rebellion against me, nor do you possess the power to be a threat to me.

At the near-assertion, Paimon's face contorted as much as it could.

But he could not refute it.

He had bared his fangs too early in the first place, and that damn it Pierre refused to submit, even going so far as to use the Saintess.

Now was the time to bow his head.

Despite having reached that conclusion, Paimon trembled with rage.

To think that long wait had gone awry because he misjudged the morale of Pierre and the Allied Forces.

If he submits now, when will the next opportunity be?

No, will it even come?

"...Have you come to mock foolish me, O great Demon King?"

To Paimon's question, which ultimately failed to hide his mood, Baal replied in an extremely arrogant tone.

"I came to end this war."

*

The supply Christine promised was beyond expectation.

A mere two days later, massive amounts of supplies began to arrive, and the Allied Forces' commanders let out joyous screams at the quantity that was beyond their imagination.

"Ahem, ahem. Are you sure you won't be billing us for this ammunition cost?"

It said it all that even King Heinrich I of Krafte, who had shamelessly been using ammunition like water until now, was surprised enough to ask for such confirmation.

"We will not bill you separately, Your Majesty, King. Instead, we would like to expect some favor in the dealings between the Krafte Kingdom and the Aquitaine Merchant Guild."

"...Very well. I shall review it positively. But, are you really sure this is alright? To prepare this much ammunition..."

"The more you try to save ammunition by engaging in melee combat with the Drones, the greater the sacrifice of your soldiers. And if their morale breaks even once like that, it would be irreversible."

I replied.

"The ammunition the Krafte Army uses is ultimately to reduce Francia's sacrifices, so for me, it is a kind of investment."

As Christine added that, Heinrich I made a slightly sour expression, then let out a small sigh and spoke.

"Damn it. I think I know why we were bound to lose the war against Francia."

Christine answered with an elegant smile, and I chuckled as well.

It's true we're spending a lot, but we will have priority in receiving the magical engineering technology that the Allied Forces will hand over to the Magic Kingdom.

One way or another, it's Christine, so she doesn't do anything that results in a huge loss.

Compared to that...

"As the Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Army, I also wish to express my gratitude to Your Majesty, King."

"I came prepared so as not to be shamed in front of you, at the very least."

Just as Heinrich I said, the Krafte Army had brought troops nearly on par with the Germania Empire.

Not only the vanguard led by General Scharnhorst and the second landing unit commanded by Heinrich I, but even the main force that joined after the gate opened.

Considering its actual territory size and population count, Krafte had also made an enormous investment.

"It was a promise made by His Late Majesty, the former King, but I did not expect you to participate so actively."

In the midst of the war with Francia, the Great King's ridiculous promise that he would support the war against Abyss Corporation if we won.

It was more of a bluff than a promise, but the Great King kept his word, and since it was actually specified in the peace negotiation treaty, it would have been difficult to just ignore it.

However, considering the losses they suffered during the war, Krafte had essentially brought all of their available troops.

The King himself even took direct command.

Eris has her personality and the symbolism of being the Saintess Queen, and Kroxx of the Iberian Brotherhood has his warrior culture, but Krafte's response was truly more active than expected.

Heinrich I looked at me quietly for a moment, then opened his mouth.

"Your country has suffered because of demons."

"That is correct, Your Majesty, King."

Heinrich I slowly turned his gaze towards the direction of Pandemonium and replied.

"We, too, have suffered because of demons. ...Though I don't know if that demon is over there."

*

The capital of Abyss Corporation, Pandemonium.

The dungeon in the spire of Abyss Corporation Headquarters.

"...Ph-huhuhu."

Bound with only his torso remaining, the emaciated, shriveled demon laughed in a hoarse voice.

A demon he thought would never come here was before his eyes, and the demon with severed limbs found himself so amusing for finding that visit so welcome that he laughed for a good while before asking.

"To make an official visit to such a wretched place in person, did you come to mock me?"

The other party was silent for a moment, then slowly called his name.

"Vassago."

"I never thought the day would come when my name would sound so sweet."

Vassago seemed to ponder it as if savoring the thought, then slowly opened his mouth and called the other's name.

"Gremory."