What Do You Wish For With Murky Eyes: Record of Highserk War - Chapter 19

Two months after seizing Aidenburg, the Highserk Empire directed its spearhead toward the Ferrius homeland. With three depleted battalions as a core, they established an army for the Myard area. Excluding two units that had advanced earlier, four battalions began their invasion towards the Ferrius border. Neither Commander Berger nor the top brass of the military were lenient enough to leave the costly troops idle, or overlook a weakened enemy.

The defense of the Ferrius border area, where the main field army and surplus forces had been routed, could be described as fragile, to put it mildly. Walm could see that the Ferrius army aimed to avoid exhaustion at the border, pull the imperial army inland to repel them while consolidating their forces. On the other hand, the Highserk Empire had conquered the border with only two battalions and was capturing the surrounding rural towns one after another. The Empire avoided regions with well-established defense facilities, focusing solely on reducing the opponent’s war capability.

Rumors among the soldiers, Walm had heard, suggested that the goal was not to defeat the Kingdom of Ferrius outright but let it bleed out. Even the infamous Highserk Empire, known as a rabid dog, was avoiding exhaustive siege warfare. The reinforcements dispatched were four battalions, including the Liguria Battalion to which Walm belonged. The anti-Ferrius army, now consisting of six battalions, was planning further invasions. Two battalions, the Liguria Battalion being one, were aiming to besiege a mine area located 15 km from the border.

“Even Ferrius, which has been retreating, didn’t abandon this place, huh?” said Jose, looking up at the Ferrius army holed up in the mountaintop mine. The Highserk Empire’s rapid advance seemed to be stalled here.

In the mine, 3,000 Ferrius soldiers are holding their ground. With multiple defense lines and control over the mountaintop fortress, a direct assault would result in more casualties than a siege. Even the Highserk Empire’s previous attempts at gold mining on the Myard border is ineffective due to the solid bedrock. It is believed that they have enough supplies for half a year to a year, and a siege would require patience. However, if they don’t allocate troops, there is a fear of allowing enemy ambushes from behind. Therefore, two battalions are attached to the surroundings.

Engaging in sporadic attacks day and night as a form of harassment, and carefully chipping away at the outer edges, the Highserk Empire is trying to avoid a situation where they would have to deal with the mountaintop inhabitants for over six months.

“All right, Shout~!!”

At the squad leader’s signal, the soldiers simultaneously shout and clang their swords and shields. Some even include trumpets and percussion instruments, and despite it being early in the morning, the cacophony of noise and the men’s shouts are the worst wake-up call for enemy soldiers. This kind of provocation and harassment continues daily even during the night, and one out of every five times, an actual attack is carried out. Last night, Walm and Willart literally engaged in playing with fire. The enemy’s defensive structures were in chaos, and Walm chuckled, thinking they must be worn out both mentally and physically.

After Walm started spreading the commotion, insults and stones began to fly from the enemy camp. While it was clearly beyond effective range, occasionally, some items seemed like they might reach their feet. Still, the power was not enough to cause serious harm to the soldiers. After about 30 minutes of harassment, Walm’s work came to an end. As if satisfied with their job, the soldiers collectively began to withdraw back to their posts.

“Since when did we become a choir?”

A witty joke came from Barito, and Walm burst into laughter. In response to that laughter, the enemy’s hostility flared up again.

“Barito, sometimes you say some good things. Look, it seems like the folks from Ferrius are hoping for an encore.”

With a loud clang, Captain Duwei struck his battle axe against his shield and nodded with satisfaction.

“We’re not doing charity work here.”

Walm exclaimed with a touch of feigned disdain, and Jose happily jumped on bored.

“Indeed, we should at least get some tips.”

“They only give stones as offerings. They’re a stingy bunch.”

Compared to previous battles, building a siege and waiting for the enemy to starve was an incredibly straightforward task for Walm.

The other day, the enemy, unable to endure any longer, launched a counterattack, but the moment they left their positions, they were counterattacked from all sides. Without achieving anything, they withdrew back to the mine fortress. While the mine was suitable for defending once entrenched, the limited points of egress made it predictable. They were steadily pushing the Ferrius soldiers back.

———–

Two more weeks passed since the formation, and the siege continued without any major battles. Walm repeatedly harassed and provoked the enemy, and was also able to train his magic with Willart and his skill called «Ignis Fatuus».

Even magic can become uncontrollable and cause damage to the surroundings, but «Ignis Fatuus» is on a different level. If not controlled properly, it was a skill that could harm a even platoon of comrades, therefore Walm was training hard inside the abandoned mine tunnels in the area.

Adjusting the firepower was difficult, and every part of the inner walls was stained black with soot. Walm had managed to give the skill some degree of directionality by now; the fact that there were no casualties among friendly forces in the Battle of Aidenburg was simply due to luck.

Above all, the most challenging part was maintaining the skill. Magic consumption was intense, and even at its longest, Walm’s magic would be depleted 40 seconds after activation. If he depleted his magic power, he couldn’t use «Heavy Strike» and his physical abilities would significantly decrease. Using the skill at the wrong time could be fatal on the battlefield.

The training of Noor and Barito was also taking place. The squad members lacking in physical activity, engaged in grappling and striking exercises, and at one point Barito received a wooden sword to his cockscombed-head from the squad leader and proceeded to grab him screaming ‘Let’s kills him!‘ – an incident that became one of the squad’s humorous stories. Of course, one second after Barito had grabbed the squad leader, he found himself hugging the ground, and even Noor was involved, taking some splash damage.

Due to 30-second uses of «Ignis Fatuus» the inside of the tunnel had turned into a high-temperature boiler room. The bats that originally inhabited the place had changed their dwelling due to the repeated use of the skill. Any bats that couldn’t escape in time had been steam cooked.

Walm still had some strength to move, but a severe sense of fatigue attacked his body. It was enough to make him feel like throwing out his limbs in lethargy.

“Hey, Walm, are you done?”

Walm’s name was called from the entrance of the tunnel. The familiar voice belonged to Jose.

“Yeah, I can’t go on anymore.”

Walm started moving from inside the tunnel towards the exit. It was troublesome, but he collected the mess tins and pottery that were hanging along the way.

“I was worried because you were late.”

Jose smiled, but Walm didn’t take it as a simple expression of words.

“What Jose was worried about is probably this.”

Walm holds up dried fish and meat. It’s unclear who came up with the idea, but they treat Walm as a natural cooking tool. Initially, the foods were completely burned, as they got too close to the «Ignis Fatuus» but after trial and error, they seemed to have found the right position and distance.

Now, even people outside the squad bring in food. Some have even made their own steamers and enjoy steamed dishes.

Despite protests, not only the squad leader but also the platoon leader, Kozul, and even the company commander, all treat Walm as an excellent cooking tool, and there was no choice but to give up. According to the company commander, it’s “the appropriate reuse of magical power used in training,” emphasized with a strong tone at the end.

Platoon leader Kozul also recommended it as “an important task to lower the enemy’s morale with the sense of smell.” Walm is convinced that it’s obviously about satisfying their gourmet desires.

Furthermore, after use, the tunnel is heated, causing pests and harmful animals to be eradicated. The area near the entrance has become a comfortable gathering place for troops.

Not only Walm but also Willart continues to play a role as a human waterway in the ongoing siege. However, his mood was quite bad.

“Don’t say that. Walm is enjoying my cooking, right?”

In addition to the food supply from Myard and organized looting of local food, the logistics of the Highserk Empire army were functioning well. Nevertheless, human desires are frightening, and the dissatisfaction with a bland and tasteless diet was resolved through individual efforts.

The food-starved squad members, had transformed into bird hunters, chasing after wild birds every day. Among them, it was shocking for Walm to learn that Noor had the highest capture rate.

She excelled in using traps, throwing stones, and bows to capture prey. It seemed her grandfather was a hunter, and she often went to the forest to earn a living.

Barito, who was outperformed by his peers, was desperate to improve his position, but Walm saw it as an unfortunate match.

“Well, yeah.”

Walm acknowledged Jose’s words straightforwardly. Jose tore the steamed bird and handed it to Walm. The savory steamed bird had a tender texture, and the more you chewed, the more the flavor emerged. It was a delicious perk, but Walm insisted it was necessary caloric intake due to the intense drain on his magic energy.

“Well, this life will soon come to an end.”

Jose muttered quietly and tucked the remaining meat into his mouth.

“Why is that?”

In response to Walm’s question, Jose paused during his chewing, then opened his mouth again.

“The number of enemy deserters has been increasing these past few days. Also the number of soldiers willing to surrender is increasing. Harassment attacks, and apparently, the smell is really effective.”

The dark-skinned youth burst into laughter and slapped his leg.

“Just think about it. They’re surrounded, facing attacks and noise day and night. Still, they’re fighting hard while eating preserved food bit by bit. Meanwhile, their enemy is enjoying a delicious meal, spreading a fragrant aroma.”

Walm imagined it. Continuous attacks day and night, the rations aren’t running out but they live a life of restraint. On the other hand, the enemy army is having a leisurely meal, spreading a delicious aroma. The morale might remain high for a while, but if it drags on, their determination would likely crumble.

“…Certainly.”

“That’s the situation. Let’s enjoy the remaining days of this lifestyle.”

Jose’s resilient attitude towards making the most of the remaining short break quietly impressed Walm, and he considered learning from it.