37-124

EP.124 The Decisive Battle for the Empire’s Fate (4)  

As the imperial army’s heavy infantry began to be pushed back in various places, groans escaped from the corps commanders’ lips. 

“This isn’t good… Even considering their exhaustion from marching, I never thought even the elite capital corps would be pushed back like this.” 

“Prinz’s army is stronger than expected. How could a group of mere conscripts be this well-trained…” 

“Wouldn’t it be best to deploy the 1st Corps from the left flank right now? It looks like the enemy has concentrated their elites in the center. If we break through their right, we could easily win.” 

In response to the corps commanders’ suggestions, Supreme Commander Baron Derian shook his head. 

“No. The enemy’s left and right flanks are also watching us with fierce eyes. They’re definitely prepared for something.” 

“But! If we just sit and wait…” 

“I didn’t expect Prinz’s forces to be so well-trained… but our soldiers are imperial legionaries. They won’t break so easily.” 

As Baron Derian said, the capital and 3rd corps’ centurions and captains quickly evacuated the wounded from the front lines and replaced them with fresh troops, preventing the breach from widening. As a result, losses began to mount on Prinz’s side as well, and a fierce, even struggle unfolded between the two armies. 

The numerically superior imperial legionaries and the physically superior Prinz army clashed on equal terms. Watching this, Derian’s eyes gleamed. 

“And if the infantry fight is even, that means it’s about time for their side to make a move.” 

Derian’s gaze landed on Viscount Amin and Count Kashu, along with the knight orders following behind them, as they quickly advanced to the center of the front. 

Meanwhile, just behind the front lines, Yuno, watching his soldiers fight, sensed a powerful force approaching and connected to Eliza via communication. 

“Eliza, it’s time. Heinrich has sent his masters, too. I bet those rumors about two masters being wounded on the Teseito front were just a ruse.” 

“Just as expected. I’ll head out now.” 

At Yuno’s order, Eliza turned and signaled to her knights. 

The knights, who had undergone brutal training under her and Lichtenauer, looked gaunt, evidence of the harshness of their training. But their eyes shone fiercely, as if determined to unleash the pain they’d endured on someone else. Eliza found them reliable and smiled brightly. 

‘Ugh, that demon woman… There’ll never be another demon like her in this world… She smiles like that after putting us through hell…’ 

‘I’m not afraid of anything now… Because nothing could be scarier than her…’ 

‘I’ll kill them… I’ll smash the enemy and be free from that demon…’ 

Though there were some misunderstandings, Prinz’s knights advanced toward the approaching imperial noble alliance knights. 

And finally, with the meeting of Yuno, Eliza, Count Kashu, and Viscount Amin, the duel that would decide the war’s outcome began. 

“Greetings, Prince Yuno. Or should I say, traitor Yuno. His Imperial Majesty the great Emperor Balkan has ordered me to bring back your head. If royal blood flows in your veins, surrender your neck and don’t waste your knights’ lives.” 

“Ha! Count Kashu? The great man himself. So, how’s that great brother Heinrich? He’d better stay alive so I can take his head myself. It’d be a shame if the bastard who killed our father just died of illness.” 

“How dare you speak of His Majesty!!” 

As Count Kashu erupted in anger, Yuno grinned and kept talking. 

“So, how’s your injury? I heard you overexerted yourself trying to catch up to Count Lichtenauer’s skill and got hurt. And you lost two-on-one to Teseito’s Duke Tiruene? If it were me, I’d have stuck out my tongue and died of shame.” 

“You… you!!” 

As Count Kashu’s face turned red with rage, Viscount Amin stepped in to calm him, then made Yuno an offer. 

“As fellow masters, let’s settle this one-on-one! Viscount Amin will face you. I’ll handle the other side.” 

“Oh? That’s unexpected. I thought you’d challenge me yourself, Count Kashu.” 

“Hrmm… If not for the injury from Tiruene, I would have!!” 

Clutching his chest in frustration, Count Kashu spat bitter words. 

“If you’re injured, you should step back. I may be lacking, but I’m a master too. I’m not so easy that you can fight me while wounded.” 

“Hmph! Some lowly Leon girl! You think a rookie who’s only been a master for a year can beat me, even if I’m hurt?” 

“…” 

Eliza was briefly provoked by Count Kashu’s taunt, but quickly calmed herself and drew her sword in silence. 

“Knights!! Draw your swords! Cut down those traitors who serve the degenerate Emperor Heinrich!!” 

“For His Majesty, victory!!” 

As Eliza drew her sword, the other knights did as well, and both knight orders and the four masters charged at each other, and the decisive duel began. 

Viscount Amin charged at Yuno with his two-handed sword, full of sword energy. 

‘Though I’m not as good as the other masters… I’ve been a master for 20 years, eating mana grass and mana stones every day, never neglecting my mana core training… Count Kashu told me to go easy and buy time, but I’ll crush him with my superior mana!’ 

Having poured his family fortune into buying mana stones, Amin had built up a huge mana reserve in the most inefficient but straightforward way and was confident in his strength. 

Though he’d lost to Duke Tiruene, who was nearly Lichtenauer’s equal, he never imagined he’d lose to Yuno. 

“Your Highness the Third Prince. No hard feelings, but you must die!!” 

As his sword, full of mana, came at Yuno’s fist, Amin smiled in anticipation. 

KAAANG!! 

But his smile was instantly twisted. 

“Isn’t this a bit too half-hearted, Viscount Amin? Looks like Count Kashu’s injury healed a while ago… Stop faking and fight for real.” 

Yuno caught Amin’s full-strength sword with one hand, easily pushed him back, and beckoned him to come at him properly. 

“You… I can’t accept this!!! You traitor!!” 

“What can’t you accept? Are you even trying?” 

To Yuno, Amin’s sword felt far too light. It was filled with mana, but the blade wobbled, and his swordwork was dull. 

‘What is this? Just a husk? All that mana, but… Even Eliza could beat him.’ 

Moreover, with the positive energy of the World Tree and Miri’s negative energy, Yuno’s mana output easily overwhelmed Amin’s. Yuno handled him with ease. 

‘I’ll take it slow and let Eliza and the knights gain experience. The knights she trained are fighting well, and the soldiers are holding out, so I can take my time.’ 

Glancing over, Yuno saw Eliza fighting Count Kashu to a draw, and the knights holding their own without casualties, so he focused on Amin. 

Amin desperately unleashed sword energy, but as his attacks grew more frantic, they became simpler, and Yuno began blocking them all in place. 

“Why!! Why can’t I land a hit?! Why can’t I touch a rookie prince who’s been a master less than two years!!” 

“Viscount Amin, I don’t think you’re really a master. Did you even train your swordsmanship? It’s obvious you haven’t trained your body. A master with a flabby belly… I’m amazed you survived your duel with Tiruene.” 

‘Tch… If Tiruene is the one who sent sword energy at me at Streve, he must have spared them on purpose. Keeping them alive would drag out the empire’s civil war and buy Teseito time to fully occupy the Zenon Plains.’ 

“You traitor!! Shut your mouth!!” 

“Well then… Viscount Amin, let me show you your weaknesses. Start over from scratch.” 

Yuno, like a sparring instructor, began tapping Amin’s body, exposing the flaws in his swordsmanship. 

“Put your weight into your legs! Without strength in your lower body, your sword has no force! After this war, I’ll train you myself.” 

“Damn it… damn it!!!” 

As Yuno treated the duel like a lesson, Amin, his pride in tatters, squeezed his mana core and unleashed sword energy, but even defending against Yuno’s attacks was too much. All he could do was grind his teeth and glare. 

Having defeated a master so easily, Yuno’s guard was down. At that moment, a sword energy slash and a fireball, both packed with mana, shot toward Yuno’s back. 

KWAANG!! 

With a huge explosion and a cloud of dust, a figure appeared in the air. 

“Hohohoho, even a master can’t survive my compressed fireball. It’s my first time compressing it seven times! Looks like that Amin brat got caught too… Oh well! Hohohohoho!” 

“Balkan Empire’s Tower Master… Jennifer Grunthart…” 

At the explosion, Eliza glared at her with eyes full of anger.