What Do You Wish For With Murky Eyes: Record of Highserk War - Chapter 11

After eliminating the remnants of the defeated soldiers in the rural areas, Walm’s Duwei Squad resumed its march towards Aidenburg, the enemy’s capital.

Along the way, the vanguard eliminated enemy resistance, and there were no scorched earth tactics like five years ago. The rear communication lines were also firmly maintained, and it seemed they would achieve their rendezvous with the main force earlier than planned.

Occasionally, horses carrying messengers raced past Walm. While magical communication devices existed, they relied on excavations from ruins and dungeons, so even on a national scale, there were only a handful of them.

Taking a brief rest near a riverbank, Walm sat down. He loosened his shoelaces, discarded his mid-calf boots, and stretched the soles of his feet.

For farm work, Walm used sandals resembling plant-based straw shoes. However, he now wore these mid-calf boots with iron plates.

Initially, long walks caused severe blisters, and there was continuous chafing, but the skin became calloused and toughened over time. Additionally, he wrapped cloth around his feet inside the boots, and he could run for kilometers without feeling any pain.

Socks did exist. They were regarded as a fashion accessory and associated with aristocrats and royalty, therefore only highly-paid soldiers and adventurers would wear them for practicality.

Washing away the dirt from his body in the river water, Walm also cleaned his clothes and the fabric wrapped around his feet. Other soldiers, like Walm, were diligently engaged in similar tasks.

After finishing the chores and resting in the shade of a tree, Willart sat down next to Walm.

“This is unusual. What’s up?”

In Walm’s memories, Willart joined the casual conversation circle on the outskirts but rarely initiated conversations himself. Even during the march, he was typically quiet.

“The other day, you mentioned an interest in magic. I’ll teach you.”

Walm vaguely remembered giving such a response when expressing gratitude for magical firepower support. He hadn’t expected to be seriously taught, so he couldn’t hide his surprise.

“Ah, yeah, I did say that. I’d love to know about it.”

There was no one who didn’t long for magic. Walm’s chest swelled with the anticipation that he might be able to learn it himself.

“Hold my hand.”

“Ehh? Your hand?”

Walm asked back at the unexpected request.

“That’s right. And close your eyes.”

Two sturdy soldiers holding hands facing each other felt surreal and somewhat awkward, but in front of the bait called magic, Walm obediently complied.

“Hyuu~, that’s hot.”

Jose, who had been watching nearby with a slightly malicious smile, whistled teasingly at Walm.

“Just kidding.”

Walm stared Jose down with a blank battle-ready expression and eventually Jose shrugged his shoulders looking uncomfortable.

“Focus.”

As Walm expressed his frustration, a reprimand came from Willart. Walm wanted to complain to Jose, but there was no point in angering Willart.

Taking a breath, Walm concentrated his awareness on the connected hand. Besides the warmth from a human hand, a cold chill was transmitted.

“It’s cold.”

“That’s right. This is the state in which mana is refined for using attribute magic.”

For Walm, who had lived his life in a world without magic, he admired it more than the people of this world. But even the inhabitants of this world rejoiced or lamented based on their aptitude for attribute magic.

“You’ve recognized it. Now focus strongly.”

It must have lasted for a few minutes. Walm began to sense things he hadn’t felt before. His senses became acutely responsive.

“I’ll let go now. Concentrate on the palm of your hand. Think of flowing water, whether it’s a river or the sea.”

What Walm momentarily imagined was rain. Cold rain that took away the heat from his body. Simultaneously, it moistened the earth, flowed into rivers, and reached the sea.

“Ah…”

By the time Walm realized it, a handful of water had been created in the palm of his hand. As a consequence, there was a slight sense of fatigue in his body.

“This is magic, right!?”

Walm, exploding with joy, spoke to Willart with a beaming smile.

“Tch, It’s a bust.”

As if expressing disappointment, the hairless man twisted his face.

“Eh!”

“It’s usable, but… just barely within aptitude. It can only substitute for producing the usual daily water, like a water bottle.”

Walm was about to protest, intending to explain how impressive it was for a human to serve as a water bottle. However, he halted his thoughts.

Users of water elemental magic, regardless of the scale, face struggles. Depending on age and individual differences, around 60% of the human body is composed of water.

As far as Walm knew, there are quite a few magic users who couldn’t use magic in combat. They are favored in food distribution though. Like humans targeted by succubus or incubus, they have the role of providing water until their magic runs dry.

Willart is one of the top magic users who can handle combat magic and even daily use water. Despite labeling Walm as disappointing, it seems he is somewhat pleased, perhaps because his personal burden has lightened.

Walm looks around, making sure he hasn’t been exposed to other comrades, but notices that the entire squad is watching this somewhat ritualistic magic teaching event.

Seeing the grinning squad leader, Walm becomes convinced. It’s already too late.

“However, compared to the explosive amount of mana you usually use with skills, it’s just one dud. You will still make a splendid human water dispenser.”

Although Walm laments his own failure, he returns his attention to Willart as he speaks.

“I… was using magic?”

“Of course. Renowned warriors use magic for enhancing skills and physical abilities. Didn’t you know?”

Willart frowned at Walm as if exasperated by his ignorance.

“I’m just a country boy conscripted into the military. I’m illiterate. What would someone like me know?”

Walm complains, and is ignored by Willart.

“Next. I can use fire as well as water element. Focus.”

Fire was familiar to Walm even in his past life and was an indispensable element in this world.

There were times when his hair was set on fire by an enemy’s fireball, turning it crispy. Walm could easily imagine it.

Closing his eyes to concentrate, Walm was aware that Willart in front of him was jumping back. When he opened his eyes, flames extended from his right hand to the height of the trees, igniting the surroundings.

“Willart!! What, what should I do!?”

Panicking, Walm shouted Willart’s name for help, but the fire was spreading around.

“What, a fire attack!?”

“No. Walm is burning the surroundings with fire element magic.”

“You idiot, stop it right away!!”

Walm received unprecedented heckling and insults from the trio of idiots.

“My hair is buuurning!”

Barito’s hair, with its impressive cockscomb, was catching fire, threatening to turn into grilled chicken.

“Please spare the cockscomb. Walm-senpai!!”

While the newcomer Noor was extinguishing Barito’s blazing rooster crest, she called out to Walm. The surroundings had turned into an unimaginable disaster.

“I didn’t do it on purpose. Wh-what should I do!?”

Walm pleaded for help, but Willart’s action was simple: “Fight a monster with a monster, throw water on fire!”

“Wait, hol――”

Without giving Walm time to beg for mercy, a water sphere approaching his field of vision struck him forcefully, extinguishing the surrounding fires.

Unable to completely stop his momentum, Walm rolled on the ground and finally came to a halt on the sixth rotation.

“Are you serious!? Willart!!”

As the small commotion settled down, Walm raised his voice of condemnation.

Willart extended his hand to Walm, and as Walm grasped it and stood up, the mage-soldier muttered softly.

“Continue. Imagine quickly.”

“Eep…”

Walm was alarmed by the short but forceful tone.

He had forgotten that this eccentric, taciturn, and completely hairless individual gave no compromises when it came to magic.

Later, it was confirmed that Walm had no aptitude for earth attribute magic, but similar to fire, he showed a high aptitude for wind attribute magic.

The problem was the uncontrollably strong wind created by Walm, which attacked the squad members during a break, and continued to a rampage until he was subdued by the squad leader’s deadly sleeper hold.

Walm’s penalty was significant: in addition to being bruised all over his body, he was assigned three days of sentry duty and tasked with being the water supply unit using the newly learned water attribute magic.