What Do You Wish For With Murky Eyes: Record of Highserk War - Chapter 28

Repeatedly destroying roads and bridges, the Liguria Battalion was making its way to the assembly point, the Sarajevo Fortress.

There were divided opinions within the military about the complete abandonment of the occupied territory of the Ferrius Kingdom, but with Commander Berger’s order, a retreat to the former Myard border was decided.

This crucial location was situated on the border between Myard and Ferrius, functioning as a defense against demons and Ferrius during the old Kanoa era.

It was surrounded by mountains, and the only other way around would be to go through demon territory infested with some the continent’s most powerful monsters, making it essentially impossible to detour and advantageous terrain for defenders.

After the capture of Aidenburg, the fortress fell in a short period of time due to a significant reduction in the required personnel, and it couldn’t fulfill its role against the fierce attacks from the Highserk Empire forces.

The Highserk Empire forces that gathered in this area had sufficient troops to make use of the fortress, and since it fell in a short time, the damage to the defensive facilities was minor, and repairs were already completed.

Already added to the fortress defense force, Walm saw many Highserk soldiers aside from the Liguria battalion. There were reconnaissance units, messengers, and engineer units engaged in construction mixed in as well.

“They’ve gathered numbers comparable to the Battle of Aidenburg.”

The squad leader leaked out such a comment.

“Sigh, the road feels narrow.”

The one complaining was Jose, who was avoiding passing cavalry.

“Better to have fewer allies than none, isn’t it?”

Noor rejoiced as if having fewer allies was reliable.

“I went through a tough time in the mines.”

Barito, recalling the fierce battle in the mines, flattened his cockscomb and spoke.

“It’s certainly better than the mines, but I’d like to relax and eat my meal.”

What Walm held was neither a round shield nor a halberd; it was a potato.

Walking with a potato in hand, Walm peeled and ate it relying on the sense of touch with a knife.

Potatoes that are neither cooked nor heated, have a terribly starchy and lumpy texture, but Walm secretly heated it before eating.

If the surrounding soldiers noticed, they would no doubt swarm around with potatoes for cooking.

Scoffing slightly at Noor and Barito as they chomp on their potatoes, Walm brought a heated potato to his mouth.

“…Walm.”

Walm’s spine froze for a moment. The disguise should have been perfect. No, if he were to be exposed—

He hoped that his intuition would prove wrong, but indeed, it was Willart who was behind him.

In a cup filled with saltwater, there were peeled potatoes.

The skilled mage Willart had figured out what Walm was doing. Though not spoken, Walm could understand. Instead of verbalizing it, Willart was urging him to cook.

When it came to fire attributes, Walm was better than Willart. He had mastered the fine control of fire during his time in the mines.

He understood the expected role. However, he didn’t intend to do it for free.

“Can you take over the water duty for today?”

“…Tch.”

Willart made a small click of his tongue, but the refusal didn’t continue. Walm used fire magic to warm the cup. He made a job change from a human cook to a walking human cook.

Satisfied, Willart brought the boiled potatoes to his mouth. The issue was the steam and smell that arose during cooking. The aroma of potatoes boiled in saltwater was too fragrant during the march.

“Willart, you’re eating quite well.”

The first to notice was the squad leader.

“What do you mean?”

Willart was shamelessly acting innocent, but his credibility was lost when he spoke while munching on potatoes.

Next was Jose.

“Hey, Walm, you handed something to Willart earlier, right?”

“Must be your imagination.”

Walm broke into a cold sweat, trying to play it off, but the inquiries didn’t stop.

“Walm, can’t you cook while walking?”

The squad leader hit the nail on the head. Envious eyes belonging to those who hoped to be liberated from the nightmare of raw potatoes were now on Walm.

“Walm, you understand, right? Because we prioritize movement, none of us can have warm meals.”

Jose spoke to Walm like a teacher advising a poorly performing student.

“If there are boiled potatoes, we can manage.”

“Yeah, as long as there are boiled potatoes, I still feel like I can walk.”

Once the newcomers joined in, the trio of idiots, and other squad members, couldn’t stop the murmurs of discontent. Whatever Walm did, the course of events was already decided.

“I get it. I guess I can boil while walking. But, carry my stuff.”

Resigned, Walm distributed baggage and equipment among the squad members.

In return, he gained a pot and a large quantity of potatoes to support the squad members’ stomachs.

“Damn it, what kind of lame situation is this?”

Willart poured water into the pot with magic, and Walm began heating it with fire magic. The gazes of passing soldiers varied.

Well, if a soldier is carrying a pot and boiling potatoes, it would be strange not to notice. Walm inwardly sighed, fully aware of the obvious.

Even among passing soldiers, there are those who try to obtain boiled potatoes through copper coins or barter.

Noticed by Platoon Leader Kozul, he praised it as “contributing to the morale of our platoon” and, along with commendation, confiscated the boiled potatoes. In return, Walm was given unboiled potatoes. As if saying the heat required to cook them is free.

Thanks to this, Walm ended up boiling potatoes while walking many times over. When Jose muttered, “We should have a hotpot―,” Walm tried to activate «Ignis Fatuus» with all his might, but the entire squad stopped him.”