What Do You Wish For With Murky Eyes: Record of Highserk War - Chapter 3

The Liberitoa Commercial Federation, which suffered a major defeat, retreated significantly beyond the border it claimed for itself and successfully rebuilt its positions along a defensive river. Through the use of earth attribute magic trenches and embankments formed, a fort that could be called an overnight castle made with the help of magic bags and carriages and The Liberitoa Commercial Federation, lacking a decisive advantage, and the Highserk Empire, which preferred the current status quo, were reluctantly continuing the war.

In the midst of such a deadlock on the front lines, negotiations from the Liberitoa side led to the release of prisoners through ransom. As expected by Walm, nobles and high-ranking military personnel were released, but the Liberitoa Commercial Federation even purchased common soldiers. Generously enough, a major noble with a labyrinth offered a large sum of magic silver coins all at once. Due to this, Walm, along with the Duwei squad to which he belonged, was assigned to guard the location of the prisoner exchange.

“Did I choose the wrong country to be born in?”

Walm muttered quietly, and he was jabbed in the side. It was his comrade, Jose.

“Oi oi, it’s fine if it’s Squad Leader Duwei, but if other commanders hear you, they’ll drown you in the river.”

Ferries were shuttling back and forth across the river, carrying prisoners to the other side. Archers and magic soldiers were deployed on the opposite bank, vigilant against surprise attacks. Even a large ballista was installed, seemingly brought out of nowhere, and Walm could only be amazed when he saw it. On the other hand, the Highserk Empire, not to be outdone, had positioned all types of troops on the opposite bank that could launch attacks. However, if they were considered the regular army, then this side seemed to consist only of bandits who had taken the equipment of the regular army.

Choosing the Highserk Empire as a soldier in war might be better, but for living as a civilian, the Liberitoa Commercial Federation might be preferable. However, Walm didn’t know about the living conditions in other countries. There was no point in comparison.

Prisoners passed by Walm’s side. Judging by their well-kept attire and skin condition, they were undoubtedly individuals of high status who could personally afford the ransom. On the opposite bank, there were scenes of scolding and embracing, and various human dramas unfolded. Walm was forced to endure a tedious performance, feeling a bit indigestion. His colleague, Jose, was also desperately trying to stifle a yawn.

Turning his gaze away, Walm, who couldn’t afford to abandon the mission, returned his eyes to the line of people. Next were those of lower status. There were 200 prisoners, and the line waiting for the ferry stretched endlessly. As he followed with his eyes, the prisoners who had dug graves the other day passed by. Their eyes met for a moment, but were hastily averted. Unlike that time, the blood splattered on the armor and the spears and swords stained with use were now clean, but they seemed to be feared.

Despite going through the trouble of cooking easily digestible food, the prisoners were too frightened to eat. They seemed to think it was poisoned. Walm spat out that it was a bothersome and complicated method. It was simpler to stab them with a sword which had immediate effect rather than dealing with poisonous substances that had storage and usage issues.

However, it was true that they had left graves without burying the bodies, but explaining that it was for burying severely injured or suddenly dead individuals, not for the prisoners, didn’t satisfy them. The battalion commander, in an attempt to prevent the prisoners from rebelling, had them dig more soil, which backfired and left them fatigued.

Sending off the last soldier, the prisoner exchange ended without any issues. The farewell party had finally ended. Walm hoped for the continuation of this gentle stalemate. The battle between the Highserk Empire, which wanted to maintain the territory across the river, and the Liberitoa Commercial Federation, which wanted to push back to the border it claimed, seemed likely to continue.

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As the construction of permanent bases progressed, units were being drawn out one after another, and Walm’s battalion was part of the first wave. With the movement of around 2,000 personnel placing a burden on logistics, they seemed to change routes and aim for assembly points at the platoon and company levels. While moving from the southeast Liberitoa Commercial Federation, where territorial disputes continued, to the northwest former Canoa Kingdom territory annexed by the Highserk Empire, several squads and detachments were given tasks. The Duwei squad was one of them.

They were ordered to subjugate goblins nesting near a water source. Walm, while not as much as humans, was accustomed to killing monsters as well. On the battlefield, there were plenty of corpses that monsters liked. For them, it was akin to an all-you-can-eat buffet. Chasing away persistently incoming unwanted guests was a familiar task for Walm.

Besides, if corpses were left unattended, they would turn into ghouls or undead. Being attacked by monsters lying in wait in corpses happened not just once or twice. If you ended up having to kill opponents you had already killed once, it could make you nervous. In most countries, tasks such as monster subjugation or dungeon exploration were often the work of adventurers, but in some countries like the Highserk Empire, they rejected the adventurer system itself.

The Highserk Empire, with more soldiers than national power, had no luxury of letting its soldiers idle. Thanks to that, Walm was made to do something like a pseudo-adventurer. It was akin to deploying the military for pest control of birds and animals when they had the time. While specialized units were apparently dispatched for high-level monsters, squads and platoons around the area handled the low-threat goblin groups.

Some villagers, without even proper training, were known to subjugate a small number of goblins or orcs. Walm also devoted several instances of his youth in the village to repelling goblins and orcs, sweating in the process.

According to the information from the village, goblins numbering over 50 were initially seen in small numbers and were exterminated by the villagers. However, one day, a man and a woman working by the river were attacked and abducted. Subsequently, goblins, having developed a taste for it, started appearing around the village, causing an increase in livestock damage. Anticipating further harm with an increase in the goblin population, the decision was made to send military forces this time. The squad that departed from the village was led by Squad Leader Duwei, advancing through the forest.

The forest, while having slight undulations, was generally equivalent to flat terrain. Unlike the magic realm, powerful magical creatures had been exterminated, and only low-level magical creatures like those encountered this time flowed in. Walm was steadily moving forward, but everyone stopped when the squad leader came to a halt.

“Alright, listen up. In another half-hour, we’ll reach their nest. The footprints and animal trails have increased. Don’t let your guard down.”

Squad Leader Duwei was known for his attentiveness to combat situations and was said to surpass the platoon leader in combat skills. However, the reason such a seasoned veteran was not chosen as a platoon leader was simple.

He was fundamentally an optimist, with a casual attitude towards everything—call it composure if you’re being generous, or sloppiness if you’re being critical. On top of that, he had a rough way of speaking. Walm was convinced that his true value was hard to demonstrate, especially in roles above the platoon leader that had managerial aspects.

Moreover, Squad Leader Duwei himself disliked the bothersome and time-consuming responsibilities of a platoon leader. The team members cautiously stepped where the advancing soldiers had walked, carefully moving aside branches that could catch onto their swords and armor around their waists.

Cloth was wrapped around places where metal rubbed. Walm was no exception. The clothes belonged to a soldier who no longer needed them after the recent battle. There was some resistance to stripping clothes from the deceased, but Walm had come to terms with it, acknowledging its necessity. As they progressed, the gaps between densely packed vegetation widened. The team members’ postures had already become somewhat akin to crawling on the ground, and all their gazes were focused on one point.

They were humanoid with a height no different from a child. Sharp canine teeth and pointed ears that stood out more than those of humans. The skin had prominent pimples and irregularities, and above all, it was green. Walm was not mistaken; it was a goblin he was familiar with. In their hands, there were primitive stone spears, clubs, and seemingly stolen agricultural tools. Walm had learned from experience that intelligent magical creatures became troublesome when their numbers were sufficient. When Walm hesitated on how to handle them, he was singled out by Squad Leader Duwei with gestures and motions.

Commanded to kill with just a gesture. Walm nodded slowly and, still crouched, moved away from the formation to the side of the goblin. Choosing where to place his feet, he carefully paid attention to twigs and fallen leaves. As the distance closed, he gradually made his breath thinner.

Moistening his dry lips lightly, Walm, having entered the lethal distance, grasped the back of the spear handle and swiftly pierced the goblin’s throat. The goblin, pierced by the spear, died instantly without making a sound. Supporting the goblin, which seemed about to collapse, with the spear, Walm laid it on the ground and dragged it by the feet. A teammate joined in assistance from the formation, hiding the corpse in the shade of trees.

The squad leader lightly tapped Walm’s shoulder.

“Well done. Efficient.”

After that, the squad encountered no more goblins and reached their destination. The goblin dwelling was a small cliff where residences were built with branches and soil, and nests continued in the cave of the cliff. It was difficult to think of it as naturally formed, and it was likely an artificial cave.

Keeping a low posture, Walm slowly peeked his eyes through the gaps in the vegetation. In the visible range, he could see around 30 goblins. Near the burning fire, bones were scattered. Among them were the skulls of water buffaloes, goats, a type of monster known as a wild boar, and among them, human skulls were visible.

No doubt, they were the abducted villagers. Walm was not surprised. Killing, violating, and consuming were the basic actions of these creatures towards humans who were abducted by magical beings.

“Willart, do it.”

The squad leader ordered one of his subordinates. There had been no prior communication, but everyone, including Walm, understood what was about to happen.

Without a response, Willart stepped forward. Willart, who was silent and had a hobby of shaving his entire body whenever he had time, had a special skill within the squad and was highly respected.

Willart concentrated magical power in his hand, manifesting a fireball. The squad’s only magic user was relied upon for a wide range of tasks, from combat to cooking.

The fireball struck the center of the nest, causing an explosion. Bones scattered due to the blast, and the goblins at the epicenter were scattered. Even the goblins in the vicinity suffered severe burns.

Caught off guard by the sudden event, the goblins were in a state of shock. In contrast, the Duwei squad understood what needed to be done, and for Walm, it was like starting fireworks at a festival. Squad members closed the distance in unison without uttering a word, swinging their weapons.

Walm was no exception to this. He stabbed the abdomen of a goblin that was in a daze with his spear twice, then crushed its fallen head with his foot. One goblin, whether attempting to escape or resist, was facing away defenselessly. Walm thrust his spear straight through from the back to the abdomen.

Though the goblin had improved its airflow, it was still a magical creature with high vitality, even if it was the lowest tier. While a human might be immobilized by such wounds, the goblin was crawling on the ground, attempting to escape. If it managed to flee, it could become a troublesome adversary with acquired wisdom. Walm had no intention of letting it escape.

Holding the spear in a reverse grip, Walm aimed for the neck and swung the spear downward. After a momentary spasm, the goblin stopped moving. A shadow appeared at the edge of Walm’s field of vision. Jumping in place, a goblin with a club accidentally struck the corpse of a fellow goblin with excess force. Walm reflexively swung the spear horizontally, aiming for the head, severing both eyes and causing the goblin to convulse and thrash. Walm, from beyond its range, stabbed and killed the goblin swinging the club recklessly.

While processing in this manner, other squad members also dispatched a similar number of goblins. Squad Leader Duwei used his skill “Strong Strike” to blow away three goblins collectively. The goblins turned prey were split in two at the torso, and there were even instances where the entire head was blown off.

Goblins continued to pour out of the cave, becoming prey for blades and blunt weapons as they emerged. The goblins Walm was initially engaging had already disappeared.

“Reinus, Tibard, Danfan, take care of the cleanup outside with half of the squad. The rest, come with me. Spears are useless. We’re going in with swords. Willart, give us some light.”

Fortunately, Walm was chosen for the cave infiltration team. External command was entrusted to the so-called Three Idiots, experienced in combat. Due to the narrow cave, Walm thrust his spear into the ground outside, then armed himself with a longsword and a round shield, proceeding into the cave.

“Torch.”

Without hesitation, Squad Leader Duwei advanced into the depths of the cave. Following in second place, Willart used the magic “Torch,” illuminating the cave with flames. The ones surprised were the goblins. Accustomed to the darkness, the goblins wavered while wielding their weapons, but what awaited them was an iron storm unleashed by Squad Leader Duwei.

In the end, Walm’s task was simply to treat a goblin hiding in a recess and a goblin playing dead—though it was on the verge of death—with a longsword. The path opened up, and there was a space the size of a classroom.

Ventilation was poor, and Walm’s nasal passages quickly threatened to react to the foul odor. There was no time to complain. In addition to the goblins, there was still a leader-like figure. A goblin of human size—a hobgoblin—brandished a rusted sword it had likely picked up somewhere, looking quite formidable. No matter how heroic its appearance, Walm couldn’t help but sympathize with the creature.

The opponent was Squad Leader Duwei. The hobgoblin swung its sword, but the time until it was struck down in a clash was no different from the other goblins. Walm stabbed the fallen goblins in the blood puddle just to be sure, and predictably, one was playing dead. Walm, thorough in checking for any overlooked threats, caught a glimpse of a shadow behind the straw that served as a makeshift bed.

It wasn’t a goblin but a woman. Scratches covered her entire body, with the shoulders and back being particularly severe. Despite the fact that she had been prey, Walm sensed why she had survived. Goblins could reproduce by borrowing the bellies of other creatures.

“Are you alive? We’re here to help.”

Walm called out to her, but the response from the collapsed woman was brief.

“Ki-… kill me.”

It took Walm some time to digest the words thrown at him. Calling out again and shaking her shoulder, the response remained the same. Looking around, no one else was speaking.

“P-please… kill me.”

Squad Leader Duwei nodded slowly. Does she need to be killed? Walm’s instincts and heart desperately wanted to avoid killing his own people, but at the same time, reason worked diligently. The limbs crushed as the goblin’s breeding sac wouldn’t naturally heal, and not even average healing magic could mend them.

The wounds carved all over her body would never heal, both physically and mentally. Even if she returned to the village, could she lead a normal life?—Walm wanted someone else to take care of it, but either way, someone had to do it. If Walm didn’t, someone from the squad would suffer.

Having made up his mind, Walm aimed the tip of his sword at her heart through the gap in the ribs, and she whispered quietly as the sword penetrated the gap and reached her heart all at once. Staring at her motionless figure, Walm was struck by the irony that her face remained calm. It was the first time he had killed a woman. Moreover, to be thanked by the person just before dying—Walm lowered his gaze to the stained sword and then shifted his eyes to the lifeless woman. Somehow, Squad Leader Duwei was standing next to her.

“Take it. If you keep standing there, you’re in the way. Drink outside and take a break.”

What was offered was expensive distilled liqueur in a hip flask.

“I took it from those folks in Liberitoa. Doesn’t suit my taste.”

The words didn’t sound like Squad Leader Duwei, who usually drank anything like it was water. Wobbling, Walm went outside and leaned his back against the base of a large tree, sitting down. The vulgar and battle-loving Three Idiots, sensing something amiss, didn’t say anything to Walm.

Taking hold of the chin strap, Walm removed his helmet and let it roll on the ground. The chain fringe jingled like a protest against Walm. The exposed scalp felt pleasant against the open air. Running his hand through his head, which had become sweaty and itchy, Walm opened the flask lid and took a sip.

The alcohol seeped through his nose, and his throat and stomach became warm all at once. Leaving a faint sweetness, the taste disappeared. Because they had set off before dawn, it was still early morning. Despite the stale heart, the sky cut by the trees was spread with a clear blue without a single cloud. Uttering a curse, Walm raised the flask again.