37-128

EP.128 The Decisive Battle for the Empire’s Fate (8)  

Watching the collective surrender of the 1st and 4th Corps from headquarters, Supreme Commander Baron Derian and the corps commanders bowed their heads. 

“It’s over… It was unreasonable from the start to ask the 1st and 4th Corps soldiers to attack Prince Yuno.” 

“And with Count Kashu, Viscount Amin, and Jennifer all defeated… it’s going to be nearly impossible to turn this battle around.” 

“Sigh~ Quartermaster, how much food do we have left?” 

In response to Derian’s question, one of the staff replied that they had about one week’s worth of food remaining. 

“Even without the 1st and 4th Corps, if we ration, we have three weeks at most. We won’t make it halfway to Adria before starving. We have no choice but to surrender as we promised Prince Yuno at the start…” 

“But even if I can persuade the 3rd Corps, the capital corps, which is the emperor’s direct force, will never accept it.” 

“And if they won’t accept it, what then? If they want to try returning to Adria without food, let them…” 

Convinced the tide had turned, the corps commanders and staff began discussing surrender terms. At that moment, a messenger rushed into Derian’s tent. 

“Commander! Count Kashu has returned!” 

“Bring him in, quickly! There’s no time to lose!” 

“Good. If Count Kashu persuades them, the capital corps will follow.” 

“Right. He’ll have more sway over the capital corps than I would.” 

Since Count Kashu had fought Yuno face-to-face, they expected he could convince the capital corps to surrender. But as soon as he entered the tent, Count Kashu made a shocking declaration, leaving the commanders and staff bewildered. 

“All-out attack!! We’re launching a final assault with every soldier! We must sweep away those traitors immediately!!” 

“P-please calm down, Count Kashu. An all-out attack is impossible in this situation! The 1st and 4th Corps have switched sides, and even the capital and 3rd Corps barely managed to withdraw!” 

“I’ll personally deal with those traitors! Enough talk prepare for the final assault!!” 

As Count Kashu shouted, a brave staff officer approached to try to reason with him. 

“No! That would be suicide, sending all the soldiers to their deaths ” 

Thud. 

But that brave staffer’s head was cut off by Count Kashu’s sword, and the commanders and staff stared at him in horror. 

“So there was a traitor among the staff as well. There must have been plenty in the 1st and 4th Corps too. That’s why those ignorant soldiers betrayed His Majesty.” 

Count Kashu wiped the blood from his sword on the corpse’s clothes and pointed his blade at the commanders. 

“Any more traitors? If not, return to your corps and prepare for the all-out attack!!” 

“…Y-yes, sir.” 

Under Count Kashu’s threats, the commanders and staff returned to their units, and Count Kashu, fuming, declared he would personally command the capital corps instead of Derian and stormed out of the tent. 

Left alone in the command tent, Baron Derian thought for a long time before rising with a look of resolve. 

“…Prepare a messenger.” 

“Sir? Where are you sending them…?” 

Normally, corps communicated using magical devices, so the staffer asked where the messenger was to go. 

“To the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Corps… and to Prince Prinz’s army. This can’t be sent by magic, so get it ready quickly!!” 

Derian’s letter containing his plan was sent to each corps, and the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Corps commanders, having calmed their troops, sent messages to Count Kashu stating they would join the all-out attack. 

“Hmm, finally the corps are moving as they should. This is what happens when you put a commoner with a single noble title in charge as supreme commander!!” 

“But sir, the enemy still has three masters left, and those princesses who defeated Jennifer. What’s your plan for them?” 

Count Kashu just snorted at his subordinate’s question. 

“Don’t worry. Count Lichtenauer is too badly injured to fight. And we still outnumber the enemy two to one. If that Eliza girl shows up, I’ll take her down myself. The rest of you just keep the traitor Yuno and the mages busy, and we’ll win!” 

In theory, this was possible, but it was a strategy that would cost countless soldiers’ lives. Count Kashu ordered it without a care, and his subordinates nodded as if it were natural. 

“Good! Raise the flag for the all-out attack! Sound the charge!” 

Bwooooo~ 

The great horn sounded, and each corps began to advance. Prinz’s army responded by reforming their defensive lines. 

Count Kashu mounted his horse and rode to the front, using a magically amplified device to shout his orders. 

“Full assault!!” 

His powerful voice rang across the battlefield, but at that moment, the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Corps stopped advancing and turned their spears toward the capital corps. This trapped the capital corps in the rear, and the soldiers who had believed their commanders’ story that the earlier events were just panicking 1st and 4th Corps troops now stared at Count Kashu in confusion. 

“C-charge!! What are you doing?! I said charge!!” 

“This is the end, Count Kashu.” 

“Our 1st and 4th Corps have decided to surrender to Prince Yuno. No matter what the corps commander says, you can’t go against the united will of the soldiers.” 

“The 3rd Corps doesn’t have any special ties to the prince… but I don’t want to be a commander who sends his men to die needlessly.” 

As the corps commanders rode out and declared their intentions, Count Kashu trembled with rage. 

“Y-you traitors…” 

“War isn’t fought by the commander alone. And if you ignore your staff’s advice and treat your soldiers’ lives like they’re nothing, you should never be a commander.” 

Baron Derian, emerging from headquarters and speaking as if giving a lesson, watched as Count Kashu finally drew his sword. 

“Shut up, traitor!! For a supreme commander to even mention surrender death is what you deserve!!” 

“Hmph! As supreme commander, I just couldn’t waste the empire’s soldiers. I’m proud of today’s surrender!!” 

“We’ll see if you still think that when you lose your head!!” 

Count Kashu sent a sword aura slashing at Derian, and as Derian braced himself for death, he closed his eyes. 

Kaang!! 

“Then you should be the first to lose your head! Count Kashu! Don’t forget, pointing your sword at the supreme commander is also treason!” 

Yuno leapt from among the soldiers and easily deflected Count Kashu’s attack. Count Kashu then ordered his men to kill Yuno, and as the corps commanders ordered their men to protect Yuno, he shouted, 

“Imperial soldiers, do not move from your positions!!” 

With overwhelming presence, Yuno’s voice dominated the battlefield, and the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Corps soldiers instinctively froze. 

“What are you waiting for?! Capital corps, kill that traitor Yuno!!” 

Even so, the capital corps, as the empire’s elite, slowly began to advance, and spurred on by Count Kashu, they charged at Yuno. 

But even as 10,000 imperial soldiers charged at him, Yuno remained completely calm. 

“Hm… This is good… They’re imperial citizens too, I shouldn’t kill them carelessly.” 

Yuno pulled up a log supporting the command tent and swung it like a club at the charging capital corps soldiers. 

Whoosh! Bang! Bang! Whoosh! Thud!! 

Every time Yuno swung the log, dozens of armored soldiers were sent flying into the air, their screams echoing across the battlefield. The terror and awe quickly seized the entire field. 

“I… I can’t… How are we supposed to get through that…” 

“I don’t want to die yet… That’s suicide…” 

Even though Yuno made sure not to kill anyone, the sight of dozens of armored men flying at once looked deadly, and even the elite capital corps soldiers froze in fear. 

“…He really is a one-man army…” 

“I saw this at Streve… The Teseito army that held him off even for a moment must have been amazing.” 

“If I ever try to make an enemy of the Third Prince, please stop me.” 

Even the soldiers who had surrendered to Yuno shuddered, but they also cheered as he dominated the battlefield. 

“Damn… Damn it!!! All troops, follow me!!” 

Finally, Count Kashu rode forward, and only then did the capital corps soldiers move, believing he would fight Yuno as a master and following him into the charge. 

“Oh… so you’re still a master? Fine! Count Kashu, let’s fight huh?” 

Yuno, about to face Count Kashu with a ki-charged punch, was left speechless as Count Kashu rode right past him and fled across the plain. 

“What? Wasn’t he going to fight me?” 

The capital corps soldiers, just as baffled, saw about half of their number flee after him, while the rest surrendered to Yuno. Yuno ordered the wounded to be treated and went with the surrendered corps commanders to Viscount Leberkin. 

“Your Highness, you did well. But that was reckless!! Trying to face an entire corps alone! Even for a master, you know it’s impossible to face a whole corps at once!!” 

“Well… it worked out in the end, didn’t it? And what’s so scary about a bunch of guys who are already terrified? Right, Derian?” 

“Haha… You acted well for the situation, Your Highness. But if you tried that with a fresh, motivated corps, you’d need nine lives.” 

“No way! I could take on a corps and still win. Hehehe. Anyway, Viscount Leberkin, formalize the corps commanders’ surrender. I’m going to report today’s victory to my brother.” 

“Yes, Your Highness. But… shouldn’t we send out a pursuit force?” 

Baron Derian answered for him. 

“There’s no need. We barely have any food left. There’s only about three weeks’ worth at headquarters… and what they’re carrying will only last three days.” 

“Then… what if they start raiding villages or harming civilians?” 

“S-surely the imperial army wouldn’t do that… Oh no!!” 

Even as Viscount Leberkin and Baron Derian turned pale, Yuno remained calm. 

“Your Highness!! We must send a pursuit force at once! Otherwise, innocent civilians could be in danger!!” 

“Hehehe, I already sent one. Normally, that army would have arrived by now. Think about where they would have gone.” 

At Yuno’s words, Viscount Leberkin gasped in realization, while Baron Derian just looked blankly, not understanding.