37-129

EP.129 The Decisive Battle for the Empire (Conclusion) 

After leaving the battlefield, Count Kashu and the portion of the Capital Corps that followed him marched until nightfall, only then preparing a late dinner and taking a brief rest. 

“Those damned traitors… I will make them pay for this humiliation!!” 

Count Kashu ground his teeth, thinking of the corps commanders and troops who had surrendered to Yuno. 

As Count Kashu urged an immediate departure, one of the thousand-man commanders approached and raised an objection. 

“Count, the soldiers fought all day today. They need rest.” 

“…If that’s the case, it can’t be helped. Any other problems?” 

“There are several, but the biggest is food. Since we only thought of battle, each soldier only has three days’ worth of emergency rations. It will take at least ten days to reach a friendly territory…” 

Though Count Kashu wanted to shout that soldiers should be able to go hungry for a few days and cut down the commander on the spot, he suppressed his temper, knowing he needed every man he had, and gave his order. 

“Sigh~ Find the nearest village. We’ll requisition food.” 

“But if we take food from the villagers after the harvest, they’ll starve until we can compensate them… and even if we try to pay them back, it’ll take time to get back from the capital…” 

“If they’re from rebel territory, they’re traitors too. There’s no need to pay back traitors. Take all their food, and if they resist, pick a few as an example and kill them!” 

“What? No, even if they’re from rebel territory, we can’t loot imperial citizens!!” 

Even though it was rebel territory, the thousand-man commanders felt uneasy at the idea of the proud imperial army looting its own people and refused the order. Count Kashu, losing patience, drew his sword. 

“Weren’t you the one who said food was the problem? Bring food immediately! If you don’t solve the supply issue by tonight, it’ll be your head!!” 

As Count Kashu shouted, one of the terrified commanders pointed at something in the distance. 

“C-Count, look over there! It’s a pursuit force!!” 

“What?” 

“It might actually be a good thing. Judging by the dust, the enemy numbers are about 3,000–4,000. And since they’re coming from the opposite direction of Windrage Castle, they probably requested reinforcements from a nearby territory… Maybe we should just crush them?” 

“Hm… Are you confident?” 

“We may have retreated due to betrayal, but we’re still the elite Capital Corps!! And we have you, Count Kashu!” 

Their flattery restored some of Count Kashu’s pride after his defeat to Eliza, and he decided it was better to win some glory before returning. He patted the commander’s shoulder. 

“Good. I lost my temper because of my loyalty… I was too harsh on you. Let’s annihilate those bastards, secure food, and weaken Prinz’s forces a bit more before we go back.” 

“Yes, sir!!” 

Smiling at their enthusiastic response, Count Kashu faced the oncoming enemy. 

“It’ll be tough, but hang in there! Defeat them, and we’ll return to Adria! Then we’ll come back here and take the heads of the traitors who betrayed us!” 

“Uwaaaaa!!” 

The corps soldiers, who had just finished a day of battle and were about to eat, glared at the enemy who threatened their precious mealtime. 

But as night fully fell, instead of the sound of infantry, the ground began to shake with the sound of hooves, and their faces turned pale. 

Cordelia’s heavy cavalry burst out of the darkness, smashing through the shield wall that had been prepared only for infantry charges, and began to break the Capital Corps’ defensive formation. 

“C-Heavy cavalry? How did the Teseito army get here?” 

‘That bastard Yuno!! Did he collude with Teseito?!’ 

Since the Balkan Empire didn’t field heavy cavalry, the commanders mistook Cordelia’s cavalry for Teseito’s. 

“It’s cavalry! Prepare anti-cavalry tactics!” 

“Drop shields and swords for mobility! The charge won’t last long!! Use spears and hooks to unhorse them!!” 

As expected of elites, the Capital Corps soldiers quickly switched weapons to unhorse Cordelia’s cavalry, but this proved disastrous. 

With their shields and swords discarded, Macmorin’s heavy infantry crashed into the now-exposed front of the Capital Corps. 

“Gahhh!!” 

“The enemy! Infantry are attacking!!” 

With their formation shattered by Cordelia’s cavalry, the battlefield turned into chaos. 

The Capital Corps soldiers, unable to receive proper orders, had to fight the melee with long spears and hooks meant for cavalry, while Macmorin’s heavy infantry cut through them with near-superhuman skill. 

As the melee grew, the torches that had lit the battlefield went out one by one, plunging the field into darkness. Then, the rangers’ arrows began to pierce the necks and heads of the imperial soldiers. 

Shu-shu-shu-shu-shu!! 

“Enemy archers! Find where they’re shooting from!!” 

“We can’t! It’s too dark to see!!” 

“How can they aim in this darkness? Damn it!!” 

In the end, the Capital Corps soldiers were slaughtered in the darkness. As screams echoed from all sides, deserters began to appear, but Gerard’s light infantry blocked the rear, and not a single one escaped. 

“Surrender!! Lay down your weapons and kneel, and you will not be killed!!” 

“Those who surrender will keep their rank as legionaries!! Anyone who flees will be executed surrender honorably!!” 

As only Yuno’s army’s voice rang out on the battlefield and the tide turned completely, imperial soldiers began to kneel one by one including captains and thousand-man commanders. 

But there was one man who could not accept this. 

“GRAAAAH!!” 

“Surrender? You, the Emperor’s elite corps?! How dare you surrender!! If you don’t want to die by my hand, stand up!!” 

Setting fire to the command tent to light the battlefield, Count Kashu, sword radiating a deadly aura, began to massacre the kneeling legionaries. 

But his sword soon had to stop. 

Thud, thud, thud, thud. 

The footsteps echoing across the battlefield were heavier than any horse, and in the darkness, only a pair of red eyes stared at Count Kashu. He sent a sword aura at the eyes. 

Kaang!! 

But his sword aura was effortlessly deflected. 

“Grrrr… A commander who kills his own soldiers… You’re not fit to lead, nor to be called a knight who protects the weak.” 

“T-T-Troll?” 

Count Kashu’s eyes widened in shock to see a troll deflect his sword aura. 

“No way… How can a troll block my sword aura…” 

“Why? Is there a law that says our Ajin can’t block your sword?” 

Macmorin taunted from the front, but Count Kashu couldn’t move. The overwhelming killing intent pinned him in place. 

‘Damn… I can’t believe a troll is a master… but he’s definitely at the master’s level… maybe even as strong as me…’ 

Ajin and Count Kashu stared each other down, then, as if on cue, swung their weapons at each other. 

KWAANG!! KAANG!! KANG!! 

Axe and sword clashed, sending shockwaves through the air. 

Both weapons, filled with mana, aimed for each other’s throats. When the shock forced them apart, sword aura and axe energy flew at each other, each seeking the other’s life. 

Both armies stopped fighting, mesmerized by the master vs. master duel. 

The earlier duel had been far from the center, but now, in the middle of the battlefield, everyone watched Ajin and Count Kashu’s fight in awe. 

‘Damn, I’m losing… Our skills are similar, but…’ 

At first, the duel was even, but Ajin’s advantage became clear. Count Kashu hadn’t recovered from his earlier duel with Eliza and was still in shock from the betrayal, so he was losing in both body and spirit. 

‘But… I can’t retreat here!! How many defeats is this now?! After losing to Tiruene of Teseito, then that damned Eliza… I even ran from a duel with the Third Prince… If I run now, I can’t even call myself a master!!’ 

Count Kashu closed his eyes for a moment, gripped his sword tightly, and gathered all the mana left in his body for one final strike. 

Ajin, sensing his opponent’s resolve, tensed and prepared to receive the attack. 

At last, Count Kashu’s eyes opened and he shot forward at Ajin. 

Chaeng!! 

In an instant, their bodies crossed, sword and axe clashing in a flash of light. 

Moments later, blood spurted from Ajin’s neck. 

“Hey, troll. You can speak human language… What’s your name?” 

“Grrr! Ajin. I am the chieftain of the Deep Forest tribe, follower of the great Miri and Lord Yuno.” 

“Good, Ajin. How did my sword feel on your neck?” 

“Grrrr… A little deeper and you would have cut my throat. You’re unfit as a commander or a knight, but your sword was impressive.” 

Count Kashu gave a faint smile, then clutched his stomach as red blood began to seep out. 

“Cough… Your axe was impressive too. Damn… I never thought I’d die here… Hey, Ajin.” 

“Speak. I’ll grant your last wish.” 

“Ugh… Congratulate your lord, the Third Prince, on his victory for me. And… please… don’t harm my family…” 

Before he could finish, Count Kashu’s upper body slumped to the ground, his life ending. 

“Grrr… I’ll deliver your last words. My lord would never harm your family, even as enemies, so rest easy, Count Kashu.” 

With Count Kashu’s death, all the Capital Corps soldiers surrendered. 

Mayer ordered Macmorin and Gerard to disarm the legionaries, then took 3,000 prisoners and Count Kashu’s body back to Windrage Castle. 

With the annihilation of Count Kashu’s remnants, Heinrich’s invasion against the Prinz-Yuno alliance ended in failure. 

Now, only the 8th and 9th Corps, left to watch the Kent rebels, remained to Heinrich. Prinz became certain of Yuno’s ascension to emperor.