What Do You Wish For With Murky Eyes: Record of Highserk War - Chapter 21

The Highserk Empire was a small country located in a region where numerous kings and lords stood.

The first war after its founding is considered a defensive war, where the enemy’s main force was lured into their territory and annihilated in open field battles.

Having achieved a complete victory, the Highserk Empire annexed the territories of the opposing country in the same momentum.

In regions with numerous small countries, power balance is crucial. The surrounding countries, banding together, attempted to invade the Highserk Empire, which stood out with a significant lead. However, after a long battle spanning decades, the only nation left standing was the Highserk Empire itself.

From the perspective of the neighboring mid-sized nations, it was a troublesome small country causing havoc without restraint as it grew.

Initially, all the countries thought similarly. The first to notice the anomaly was the Liberitoa Commercial Federation. One of its vassal states suffered a major defeat and sought reinforcements from the homeland.

Liberitoa sent an excessive force of 10,000 soldiers. Combined with the vassal state’s troops, it amounted to 15,000 soldiers, a force that was more than double the Highserk force. Despite the advantageous terrain for Liberitoa, everyone expected a great victory. However, the result was a disastrous defeat for Liberitoa. The vassal state also had to cede part of its territory to Highserk.

Liberitoa, recognizing the strength of Highserk’s exceptionally well-trained soldiers and their war experience, had to reconsider its perception– a lesson that came at a high price.

Next to notice was the former Kanoa Kingdom. The lords along the border who felt obstructed by the expanding Highserk clashed with them over control of the rivers.

The battle ended in just six days, with the entire territory of the local aristocrat lost. The head and members of the family were all killed, and the land was seized by Highserk.

At this point, the neighboring countries of Ferrius and Craist, also witnessed the threat of the Highserk Empire. However, since they welcomed the idea of a fellow mid-sized nation being weakened by a newcomer, they chose to remain passive without providing cooperation or support.

Later, facing the Highserk with a defensive war and a just cause, the former Kanoa-Myard also succumbed to the empire. The remaining mid-sized countries in the north became three in total. Now that Highserk’s territory surpassed that of mid-sized countries, it was unclear how far Highserk’s territorial ambitions would extend.

The territory, once as small as a goblin’s body, had become one of the largest among the surrounding countries.

Moreover, if the crippled Kingdom of Ferrius were to fall, the surrounding countries wouldn’t be able to compete. The three immovable powers remained still, and the calculating Highserk Empire did not provoke them.

The anxiety and fear of the surrounding countries were about to give rise to unprecedented events that would have been impossible in peaceful times.

In a chamber of the Craist Kingdom, which borders both the territories of Ferrius and Liberitoa, a mobilization of the knight order for security was taking place.

One of the invited dignitaries, Hugo Evans, the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Liberitoa Commercial Federation, took a seat at a round table. Forming fire attribute magic, he lit a cigar that had one side cut off and emitted purple smoke.

In response to the activated fire attribute magic, one of the guards from the Craist Kingdom eyed Hugo suspiciously. Although Hugo had been in office as the foreign minister for ten years, his career in the civilian sector had not been smooth.

He had traversed battlefields as an infantryman, experiencing numerous intense situations. The bareness of his head was due to the fact that his scalp had been burnt along with his helmet.

Even in his old age, he took pride in being able to take on a few infantrymen, but he was aware that it wouldn’t work against escorts for representatives and officials from various countries.

“You’re quite dedicated to your duties.”

Hugo, with a smile on his cheek, which was also scarred from burns, praised the Craist Knight, but the response was indifferent.

“…Thank you very much.”

While Hugo and other members of the Liberitoa Commercial Federation Parliament were in high spirits due to the addition of the Kingdom of Ferrius and the Principality of Myard in the war against the Highserk Empire, the recent situation was not favorable.

To the disappointment of both nations, the Myard Principality had fallen, and the Kingdom of Ferrius was fully occupied with defending its mainland.

It was more than enough to dismay Hugo, who had hoped that having multiple fronts against Highserk would be advantageous.

Hugo cast his gaze upon the individuals seated at the round table.

In the center was the host country, Craist Kingdom, represented by Chester Craist. To his right was the King of Ferrius, Barristan. Compared to Winston, his martial-oriented younger brother whom Hugo had encountered during previous negotiations, Barristan’s slender body had become even more thin. Though his complexion was not excellent, his eyes gleamed even more fiercely than when he last saw him. The eyes of someone cornered without room to spare—something Hugo liked to see.

“Well, well, Ferrius Kingdom is in quite a predicament. To think that Myard fell and lost the majority of its field army… truly unfortunate, and I can’t find the right words to say.”

Hugo was the first to speak.

“…Hah, I appreciate your kind words. To think we’d follow in Liberitoa’s footsteps.”

In response to Hugo’s sarcasm, Barristan shot back with an intense gaze.

“Follow…in our footsteps? I don’t recall losing a third of our homeland like Ferrius did.”

“Let’s leave it at that. We didn’t gather here for the sake of enjoying polite conversation,” reprimanded Chester, the host.

Hugo had no intention of engaging in a serious exchange of provocations. It was just a light warm-up of words before getting into the main topic.

“Indeed. Let’s cut the greetings short. By the way—”

Halting his words, Hugo turned his gaze to another seat at the round table.

“Who might the lovely young lady over there be?”

At the end of his gaze was a girl sitting alone. It was certain that blue blood ran through her veins, judging from her gestures and demeanor, but Hugo didn’t have information about this girl. After all, this was supposed to be a multinational discussion among the three countries of Liberitoa, Ferrius, and Craist.

A limited number of attendants and aides stood behind the main characters sitting at the round table. Those who could sit here were only individuals with the influential power of a nation that could shape the future of their country. In Hugo’s opinion, she was quite out of place.

“From Myard.”

The one who answered was Barristan. The girl continued the introduction.

“I am Rita Myard. As the representative of Myard, I am participating.”

Hugo’s mind quickly turned. While he didn’t have direct acquaintance with the girl, he was aware of her existence.

“Ah, indeed, one of Lord Youth’s daughters. Surprising to see you’ve escaped. However, it’s peculiar to have a representative of the fallen Myard.”

Without being shaken by Hugo’s words, Rita responded.

“I had reliable knights with me… Myard indeed lost over half of its territory, but Celta is still intact.”

After a brief pause, Hugo applauded.

“Celta… ah, certainly, the aquatic resources and waterways there were crucial economically. However, now it functions only as a base against lake and marsh dragons. With an active navy, surviving soldiers, and lake dragons, the appeal is minimal. Even Highserk wouldn’t bother to intervene.”

For Hugo, considering the resources and economy of the vast Lake Celta and its surrounding rivers, it was a region that needed to be controlled. However, the ruler residing there brought more significant disadvantages than benefits in terms of the substantial lake and surrounding areas.

Myard, although weak in land warfare, has a very skilled navy due to its long years of holding the lake. Hugo, regrettably, understands that Highserk wouldn’t casually intervene and risk unnecessary losses.

“Yes, as you said, Sir Hugo, it was like that until recently. However, the lake and marsh dragons have now been subjugated.”

Hugo’s face contorted for the first time since the meeting began.

“They’re subjugated now, you say?”

“Yes… they’ve been subjugated.”

Although a sub-dragon species, it was a powerful magical creature belonging to the highest rank among monsters. Its gigantic jaws could crush ogres and trolls in a single bite. In the past, when the lake dragon attacked the floating city in Liberitoa before the rulership change, it was defeated at the expense of two and a half companies.

With such significant sacrifices, news of it should have reached Hugo’s ears from merchants and spies.

“That is… that is good news indeed. Brave soldiers must have endured hardships, I presume.”

“Fortunately, not a single person lost their life,” Chester, who rules one side of the lake, interjects.

“Against a lake dragon?”

Hugo’s lips twisted in disbelief.

“Thanks to Myard’s navy, Craist’s knight order, and visitors from another world. Not to say they are invincible, but they performed as well as, if not better than, a hundred or two hundred soldiers on their own.”

Chester clapped his hands, and one of the young men who had been waiting stepped forward from the wall.

“One of the visitors from another world.”

“Nice to meet you… I’m Asama Yuuto.”

The one who gave his name was a black-haired, black-eyed young man. He retained a certain youthfulness, and perhaps due to being unfamiliar with the surroundings, his movements were stiff. If there hadn’t been information about visitors from another world at this gathering, Hugo would never have thought that this person was the one who defeated the lake dragon.

“Hmm, to subjugate a lake dragon at that age is truly admirable. The name from another world is quite exotic. If not for this occasion, I would like to hear the heroic tale of how you vanquished the lake dragon.”

Hugo wanted to discern what kind of magic and skills the young man possessed and how he fought, but he understood that the individuals seated at the round table were not foolish enough to reveal everything.

“Not at all. I just fought following the instructions of the Craist Knight Order.”

Hugo fully grasped the intentions behind Rita and Barristan’s display, as well as Chester’s introduction of the visitor from another world.

“Despite your youth, both Lady Rita and Sir Yuuto are truly exceptional.”

Hugo said this half in jest and half seriously. Craist was a country that easily connected to the other world and had developed its territory in both military and civilian aspects through visitors from the other world. Hugo wished for the fantastical notion of human resources falling from the sky to be just a fairy tale.

“Let’s get back to the main topic soon,” Chester said with satisfaction.

There were previous discussions among the other three countries already. Hugo was convinced of that.

The sovereign and former vassal countries, the interests of the lake, military balance—Hugo carefully considered the materials that would be used in negotiations.

“Ah, I’ll be straightforward. Ferrius desires a strong alliance. An alliance that emphasizes both military and economic aspects among the four nations with Lake Celta as an economic zone.”

Barristan suddenly confronted Hugo.

Diplomacy, for Hugo, was not much different from warfare. In fact, he strongly believed that war was a part of diplomacy.

In his imposed position, Hugo was infuriated that the groundwork had been secured before the verbal battle even began. Yet, it was also an enticing proposal.

“That’s quite bold.”

Entering into an alliance would inevitably lead to a full-scale war with the Highserk Empire. Still, this proposal was something Hugo couldn’t ignore, not just for the future of the Liberitoa Commercial Federation but also because they couldn’t afford to stand idly by. The ever-expanding Highserk Empire would eventually determine the balance of power.

More concessions, as many as possible—Hugo’s mind spun rapidly. Unbeknownst to himself, he found more genuine enjoyment in this significant discussion than in idle chatter.

“Please continue. This is a crucial discussion involving the glory and decline of each country.”

The skin, scarred and blistered from burns, contorted when it tried to form a smile. Yet, Hugo no longer even felt the pain.