37-115

EP.115 Yuno Army’s Rapid Advance (1) 

Knock knock. 

“Mom, I’m coming in.” 

Yuno knocked and announced his entrance, but there was no reply. 

However, sensing her presence in the room, Yuno didn’t bother waiting for an answer and simply opened the door and went in. 

“Mom?” 

Inside, he saw his mother sitting at her desk, fiddling with something she was making. 

“…You’re here? Coming into your mother’s room without even being told… What a naughty son.” 

Yuria also paused her work and smiled as she greeted Yuno. 

“Why would I need permission to enter my woman’s room?” 

“Hehe… You’re right… I am my son’s woman now…” 

Yuria stood up and melted into Yuno’s arms. 

Yuno hugged his mother tightly, savoring her soft skin, fragrant scent, and warm embrace things he wouldn’t feel for a while before finally letting go. 

“Mom, I’m leaving now. Just wait a little and I’ll be back soon, so don’t worry too much.” 

“Mm… I want to hold you back, but… this is your will… I’ll wait. You must come back safe, okay?” 

Yuria then handed Yuno what she had been making at her desk. 

“What’s this?” 

Yuria’s face flushed as she answered. 

“Uh… it’s a doll I made… I used my pubic hair to make it… They say if you carry this into battle, arrows will always miss you.” 

It was just a baseless superstition, and arrows couldn’t hurt him anyway, but Yuno put the doll, lovingly made by his mother, together with the charm Miri had given him. 

“Hehe, a doll made of mom’s pubic hair… That’s a rare one. If it’s made from the hair of the most noble woman in the empire, maybe I should display it in the palace someday.” 

“You~ I worked hard on that for a week and you’re teasing me?” 

“Haha, just kidding, Mom. Thank you. I’ll treasure it and return it after the victory. I’m really going now~” 

“You must come back safe!! If you come back with any injuries, I’ll hit you once for every scar I see!!” 

With his mother’s encouragement ringing behind him, Yuno felt a surge of strength as he went out to the manor yard, joined his women, and headed for the Fairy River where his army was stationed. 

When Yuno’s group arrived at the Fairy River, the sun was setting, and as the time for departure approached, he could see the soldiers’ tension rising. 

Mayer received reports from Macmorin and Gerard that all soldiers were ready and relayed this to Yuno. 

Soon, Yuno mounted his horse, rode to the front of the army, and began his speech, his voice echoing across the Fairy River as it glowed in the sunset. 

“Listen! From now, our army will advance on Graim territory! Some of you may wonder why we must fight. This battle isn’t for your families or your hometowns. In the coming battles, some of you may lose your lives, and some may be left with lasting injuries.” 

“L-Lord Yuno, if you say that, the soldiers might get even more nervous…” 

Ignoring Mayer’s concern, Yuno continued his speech. 

“But!! Are you just going to stand by and watch the empire fall apart? Are you going to watch the country you live in be defiled by the degenerate emperor Heinrich, have its lands stolen by Teseito, and be ruined by endless rebellion?” 

No!! 

We will stand up!! If you trained us yourself, we can do it!! 

Long live Balkan!! Victory to Lord Yuno!! 

As the soldiers shouted their resolve, Yuno raised his voice even more. 

“Yes. We fight to restore order to Balkan. We fight for our future! We fight to make this country better for the children who will live here!!!” 

For our future… 

For the country our sons and daughters will live in… 

Thanks to Yuno’s powerful speech, the soldiers were already picturing happy lives with their families, and the prosperity brought to the territory since Yuno’s arrival made it all the more real. 

“This is our duty, and our right alone! I promise you! I, Yuno Alexander Windrage von Balkan, promise you!! In every battle to come, we will be victorious. You will rebuild the empire ruined by Heinrich!! Make Balkan Great Again!!” 

Waaaaaah!!! 

“From now on, you are neither the Teshidanikana Army nor Yuno’s army. You are the Revolution Army!! Yuno’s Revolution Army, who will bring new winds to Balkan!!” 

Yuno! Yuno! Yuno! Yuno! 

As the soldiers chanted his name, Yuno pointed to the newly built Fairy River bridge. 

“March, Revolution Army!! I, Yuno, will bring you victory!!” 

No one in Graim territory knew of the bridge’s existence, so there were no defenders, and Yuno’s army began their advance, following Yuno at the lead. 

Though Graim territory was in better shape than Yuno’s, the empire-wide food crisis had also created refugees here, so Yuno’s army reached Count Graim’s Petto Castle without resistance. 

“Huh? Why aren’t there any guards?” 

“Rumor has it… Count Graim didn’t have enough food to feed his soldiers, so he only posts guards during the day to collect entrance fees. I guess it was true… All our plans for storming the castle are useless now.” 

Even Mayer was speechless at the absurdity. 

Though an easy victory was at hand, Yuno could only smile bitterly at how far the empire had fallen. 

“But that doesn’t mean we should go easy on them. Seeing this mess, I don’t feel the least bit sorry for Count Graim. All troops! Over the walls!!” 

At Yuno’s order, Gerard’s light infantry began climbing the walls. 

Where there should have been desperate resistance, the walls were quiet, and the castle gates opened with ease. 

“Macmorin! Use your heavy infantry to secure all the gates! Don’t let anyone pass without my permission!” 

“Understood, Captain Mayer!” 

“Gerard! Split your light infantry to take control of the alleys and disarm any soldiers that try to escape! Send all civilians who come out after sunrise back home!” 

“Yes, Captain!” 

“Sir Cordelia, scout around the walls for any approaching enemy forces. Princesses, please use spirits and magic to block any communications.” 

“Yes, Captain Mayer.” 

Following Mayer’s orders, the commanders and soldiers spread out to carry out their tasks, and Mayer returned to Yuno for the final step. 

“Lord Yuno, please take Princess Eliza, Ajin, and the rangers and seize the count’s manor.” 

“Alright. What about Count Graim should I kill him?” 

“That’s up to you after you meet him, sir. It won’t affect our tactics either way.” 

“Got it. Eliza! Ajin! Let’s go!” 

At the count’s manor, a few guards were on duty, but they were no match for Yuno, Eliza, and Ajin, and were quickly subdued. 

The rangers stormed inside, seized the manor, and brought Count Graim before Yuno. 

“Uuu… Is this a dream? Haha, seeing a troll sitting quietly in front of me, it must be a dream… but what a nightmare. Hey! You, the blond! Punch me. I don’t want to dream this dream.” 

Seeing Count Graim in his pajamas, babbling as if he’d been dragged from bed, Yuno clicked his tongue. 

“Well, if that’s your wish…” 

“Huh? It’s a dream, so what does it matter? It can’t hurt…” 

Smack!! 

Though Yuno didn’t use mana and held back his strength, the slap was enough to wake Count Graim, whose cheek swelled up instantly. 

“Kuhh! L-Lord Yuno? Why are you here…?” 

Only then did Count Graim recognize Yuno and look around in shock. 

“My lord!! I’ve done nothing wrong!! Why are you doing this to me?!” 

“Oh, you’re not completely innocent. Do you know how many refugees crossed from your territory into mine? It gave me a huge headache!” 

Of course, it was Diane, Hiriya, Rachel, and Baron Kimberly who actually dealt with it, but Yuno pressed the count with a straight face. 

“Eek!! I’m sorry!! B-but, is that really reason to persecute me like this…?” 

“Well, that’s not the only reason. You swore loyalty to Heinrich, didn’t you? So you must know why I’m doing this.” 

“But His Majesty Heinrich is the emperor. As a noble, I’m obliged to be loyal…” 

“Yeah, I get it. But I don’t recognize a degenerate emperor. I’m going to war with Heinrich. So it’s only natural to neutralize you, who could threaten our advance or rear.” 

Finally understanding, Count Graim’s eyes darted nervously. 

“I’m sorry! Lord, please spare my life!!” 

“What are you sorry for?” 

“For… for turning a blind eye to that scoundrel Heinrich’s usurpation! But remember, when you first arrived in your territory, I welcomed you sincerely… Please have mercy…” 

Yuno hadn’t planned to kill the count, and seeing him beg so pathetically, he felt a little sorry for him. So he decided to imprison the count’s family for now, and let the count join Mayer’s army as a condition for sparing his life. 

“It’s just called prison, but it’ll be more like house arrest in a decent home, so your family won’t suffer. But! If any servant tries to call for help or inform outsiders, I can’t guarantee your lives. Explain that to your family.” 

With Yuno’s warning, Ajin drew his axe, infused it with mana, and demonstrated its power. 

“Eek!! A master? A troll?!” 

“Grr! If you want to test my axe on your neck, just try anything!” 

With Ajin’s show of force, Count Graim’s will to resist vanished, and he brought his family to swear allegiance to Yuno and pledged to defect. 

With the count submitting, the soldiers showed no resistance and surrendered their arms to Yuno’s army. 

At sunrise, Graim territory was completely occupied by Yuno, and thus, the first battle of Yuno’s army ended without a single casualty on either side.