What Do You Wish For With Murky Eyes: Record of Highserk War - Chapter 16

The battle had continued after the main enemy force was destroyed and the 3,000 encircled Ferrius soldiers surrendered. The weary troops disarmed the prisoners and converted the captured hill into a temporary headquarters. The remaining forces, including the swift cavalry and light infantry battalions, relentlessly pursued the fleeing Ferrius remnants attempting to escape to their homeland.

Even with the loss of their commander, Winston, and the destruction of five battalions, two battalions still remained intact. Allowing them to escape unharmed would have diplomatic repercussions.

In this situation, the Liguria Light Infantry Battalion received orders not to hold the hill but to engage in the annihilation of Aidenburg, the capital of Myard. This was due to the presence of Ferrius and Myard soldiers who had not joined the main force and were now infiltrating the city in civilian attire.

Aidenburg, which had prioritized border defense, lacked significant defensive structures. This was one of the reasons Ferrius and Myard chose a battlefield on the plains. Outside the city, rivers flowed, restricting access to the urban area from the plains.

If one attempted to enter the city from the river, there were only two bridges or ferry crossings. The crucial bridges served as defensive points, and although the victory of the Haiserk Empire was decisive, defending soldiers continued to resist. Fortunately, the weak resistance was swiftly suppressed, but one of the two bridges had been destroyed by Ferrius.

The Liguria Battalion had several priorities. First was securing the storage of provisions. Myard, a fertile grain-producing region, actively exported grains to neighboring countries. In Aidenburg, the central hub of trade, there were numerous granaries and supply depots supporting the military.

Second was the capture, protection, or elimination of influential figures and authorities. Simply killing all those who opposed would not ensure successful governance. To efficiently annex the region, a certain number of influential Myard figures were necessary, as was taught to Walm in military training.

Crucial positions were given to lords and nobles who had colluded in advance, displaying a merciful heart by allocating the remaining seats of rulership and privileges to influential figures. This strategy, known as a carrot and stick approach, allowed the Highserk Empire to unify the chaotic and warlord-ridden territories that were once characterized by the proliferation of small nations.

The third priority was maintaining public order. Within the city, there were numerous defeated soldiers who had become desperate, engaging in looting and rape while continuing to hide. In addition, some soldiers were disregarding military discipline and committing acts of plunder.

Looting and assault was tolerated in this world more than in Walm’s previous world, but, the Highserk Empire restrained such actions, especially in crucial locations. For the Highserk Empire, which aimed to utilize the land and its people as they were by merely changing the leadership, excessive lawlessness would pose future challenges.

Of course, there were entities that were not protected for the soldiers to release their pent-up energy. These were the powerful individuals removed from their seats.

One such target was the late Youth Myard, a former noble of Old Kanoa who became the public king of Myard. The elegant mansion, likely with a history spanning centuries, had been ransacked by numerous soldiers.

“These people are Myard soldiers, aren’t they?”

Noor, gazing at the piled-up corpses, made the observation.

“For soldiers who have lost their country, it must have looked like a treasure trove without a guard.”

Jose glanced at the corpses but, whether out of disinterest or some other reason, quickly turned his gaze to the mansion.

“Even if you possess power and wealth, the moment of collapse comes in an instant.”

Perhaps as someone born into a merchant’s life, Walm couldn’t help but wonder if there was something on Jose’s mind. The cheerful Jose appeared somewhat sentimental in Walm’s eyes.

“I can’t say I don’t understand, but it’s pathetic, to be unable to escape in time because of trying to run away with valuables.”

Those with sharp minds had either quickly finished their affairs, feigned civilian status within the city, and sought refuge with relatives or attempted to flee outside the city. Those piled up here were the ones blinded by greed, the ones who failed to escape in time.

“Though they were once lords, they are ungrateful wretches. According to the surviving servants, it seems their families were killed by looters before we arrived. Some soldiers and even civilians were among them.”

In Squad Leader Duwei’s voice, there was a mix of disdain.

“The mansion has enough manpower. We’ve been ordered to patrol the city. Everyone have what they need?”

Squad members’ backpacks and hip pouches were stuffed with plundered items and the remaining provisions from the food storage. While Walm, tasked with maintaining order, was diligently patrolling, he engaged in legal acts of thievery.

Though he followed the rules of the country and the organization, morally, it might not be forgiven.

The streets of the city were devoid of civilians. Walm only crossed paths with Highserk soldiers. Occasionally, there were defeated enemy soldiers mixed in.

Soldiers who were found in units that resisted even a little or had misconduct were becoming fresh stains on the road, and carried away in handcarts by their captured comrades.

“Wait!! I’m not a soldier!”

A man dragged out from a building shouted in defense, but the soldiers did not loosen their grip and proceeded to strip off his clothes.

“There are fresh wounds from arrowheads. Take him with us.”

Indeed, there were marks on the man’s back that would have been from an arrow piercing. It was one of the wounds Walm had seen often on the battlefield. There was no mistaking it.

“That’s not it. I was outside, and an arrow came flying at me. I’ve never been on the battlefield!”

The man continued with painful excuses, but the soldier continued without changing his tone.

“Do you want to be processed like those soldiers as well?”

The soldier pointed his chin at the handcart, which was loaded with corpses. Blood dripped from the platform, and Walm could even trace where it had come from.

Despite this, the man who was about to speak gave up when he saw the soldier put his hand on the sword as a final warning.

The man hung his head and glanced at the building he was dragged out of. A young woman and a child, likely his family, peeked out anxiously.

“Be grateful you’re not being killed. Well, this time, if you work for a few months, you might be released. Now, walk.”

The man, after a final glance at his family, obediently joined the line of prisoners. Such scenes were observed throughout the city. Those with fresh wounds or bruises from the war, and in some cases, burns, were forcibly taken away.

There were also ordinary civilians among them. Walm felt a dark mood, but there was no way to distinguish them. If there were any omissions, it could pose a threat to maintaining order, and he couldn’t let rebels with military experience run loose.

In addition, for better or worse, the Highserk Empire seemed to view even human life as a resource. In the midst of a conflict with an enemy nation, they would demand ransom for hostages and sell lower-ranking prisoners both domestically and internationally.

After annexation, there were several paths for enemy soldiers to follow. They would be engaged in repairing cities and facilities ravaged by war for a certain period, or they would be involved in civil engineering projects domestically and abroad. The rivers and roads within Highserk were constructed in this way.

Depending on an individual’s performance and the overseer’s discretion, one could be released as soon as a few months or, for the longer sentences, several years. Some may even be promoted to overseers directly, while others, with nowhere else to go, often join the Highserk army.

While strolling through the city, a clamor echoed through one of the streets. Walm reflexively prepared his halberd.

“Sounds like fighting…?”

Barito tensed up, but Squad Leader Duwei denied it.

“It’s a strange sound for a brawl. Probably just a minor scuffle.”

Hearing the noise, Walm hurriedly headed towards the center of the commotion. It turned out to be an ordinary civilian’s house. Other squads, likely on patrol, were blocking the entrance.

“What happened?”

Walm asked the elderly soldier blocking the entrance.

“These guys went too far. They broke into the house, raped the woman, and even beat her husband to death. On top of that, when they were subdued, they started resisting.”

Walm peeked inside, and four young soldiers were being held down on the floor and restrained. A woman was sitting on the side, crying, and a man lay motionless with his spirit drained. His face seemed to have taken a severe beating, with a broken nose and teeth.

“They’re idiots. Fooling around without even getting permission for that kind of thing.”

Walm recognized the men from somewhere. He searched his memory and remembered. They were the ones who had abducted a woman near the border fortress.

“What will happen to these guys?”

The soldier crossed his arms, contemplating.

“Normally, it would be a beheading offense, but they’re on the side of the victorious. Besides, they are the members of the Sarria battalion who fought against Myard territorial soldiers well. They’ll likely get away with just some whipping and labor mixed in with the prisoners.”

Hearing this, a young Sarria soldier attempted to curse, but after being kicked in the face several times, he fell silent.

“Is whipping really enough?”

It seemed too light a punishment for having killed a civilian. Walm unintentionally blurted out.

“It’s a common story. If we killed them all one by one, we’d run out of soldiers.”

The squad leader who was listening on the side joined the conversation.

“Flogging is reeeally awful. Arrogant soldiers scream after the first strike, cry after the second and third. The skin peels, and the flesh is scraped off. Some pass out or lose control of their bladder, but they wake up again with the next lash. Some even die. Can you endure that?”

Squad Leader Duwei looked down at the Sarria soldiers as if observing filth. On the other hand, as they imagined the whipping, the faces of the Sarria soldiers quickly became more subdued.

“Did you hear that, you fools? It’s an appreciative piece of advice from a squad leader. If you want to reduce the number of lashes, go quietly when you get arrested.”

The once hungry young wolves, were led away like obedient dogs by the senior soldiers.

Despite warnings of an attack, there was no combat in the area Walm was responsible for. The incidents that occurred included interrogations of defeated soldiers, violations of military law, looting, and assault by Highserk and Myard soldiers who ignored orders.