What Do You Wish For With Murky Eyes: Record of Highserk War - Chapter 32

Walm carried a basket on his back and held a suitable stick as he walked through the forest. All of this was to maintain a rich food supply.

It was challenging to completely fill the family’s stomachs with just the fields. While their parents focused on farming, Walm diligently gathered mountain vegetables in the mountains.

Walm, at the age of 12, wasn’t alone. His older brother, by two years, accompanied him. They climbed slopes, parted the fallen leaves, and filled the basket.

Although it was hard labor for a child’s body, strangely, it didn’t feel like strenuous work.

The older brother started to run through the forest, inviting Walm to join him. Walm hesitated slightly, but at times, it was necessary to display age-appropriate behavior.

As he ran, he became absorbed in the game of chase. Walm caught up and tapped the back of the slightly slow brother.

“I caught up!”

There was a slight sense of embarrassment, but Walm said it with a triumphant face. Despite their lungs screaming and their legs trembling, a victory was a victory.

“For a little guy, you’re fast.”

His brother’s hand ruffled his head.

“Look, Walm.”

Where the brother pointed, berry trees spread out abundantly.

“Amazing, isn’t it?”

Walm praised their brother. Although they had seen small berries a few times before, there were many competitors, and conflicts with local brats were common.

But this was the frontier. With many slopes and poor footing, this place, close to the demon territory, had been a sanctuary that had never allowed intruders.

“Don’t tell the others. You’re still growing up.”

Walm and their brother filled their cheeks with berries. Their hands turned red, and a sweet and sour smell wafted from their nails and mouth.

Although it was a sanctuary where even beasts didn’t approach, birds occasionally gathered attracted by the berries. Seeing this, Walm’s eyes sparkled as they said, “Even birds are coming. It’s amazing that food comes to us.”

“… Jeez, you really are indifferent. It’s strange that you don’t have comments like ‘birds are beautiful’ or ‘cute.’ I’m worried about you, big brother. Mom and Dad are worried too because Walm doesn’t openly seek affection.”

Being worried by a boy mentally much younger than himself seemed quite ridiculous. Nevertheless, that goodwill felt both uncomfortable and warm to Walm.

“Well, it’s still a feast, isn’t it?”

The brother agreed with Walm and had a dark smile. With berries as bait and using vines, thin wood, and branches to create traps, Walm and their brother had gathered enough protein and vitamins for the family and triumphantly returned home.

“Ah, ugh, eeehh-iiieee, aaaaahhhhh!??”

The image of that world froze. Walm clutched his head, gritting his teeth against the pain that felt like his brain was being stirred. The pain was so intense that he couldn’t even open his eyes.

He couldn’t grasp the situation. What was he doing? What was he doing? Walm, repeating these questions to themselves, arrived at an answer.

That’s right. He had finished work. He needed to go home. Slowly opening his eyes, in front of him, the railroad crossing emitted a bright red light.

Clang, clang, clang, the sound of the railroad crossing continued endlessly. It was a familiar road. A road that Takakura Raizou had passed through thousands of times.

A 10-car train passed by with a deafening noise. Due to the speed, no one inside could be identified.

Something is forgotten. What is forgotten? The warning-colored crossing gate slowly lifted. That’s right. He must go home. Raizou continued to walk the way home.

Strangely, only the streetlights and houses on the way back were faintly lit. Bewildered, Raizou looked back, and there, an invisible darkness spread. There was no doubt. It was slowly approaching.

He must not be consumed. He instinctively realized that.

Turn right at the corner, go straight at the crossroads, and pass through the park for a shortcut.

Sounds he shouldn’t hear reached his ears. Unseen sounds echoed. The swing, which should be empty, was moving slowly. A semi-transparent figure was there. The sound of someone innocently climbing the slide echoed.

He would soon reach the apartment. The weathered exterior caught his eye. There, Raizou stopped. He saw himself collapsed in front of him.

Something is wrong. Something is wrong. Walm’s thoughts were thrown into the chaotic crucible, but a glimmer of light descended. That’s right. Takakura Raizou was dead.

Wrinkles had disappeared from his hands. Putting his hand to his head, he felt the rich texture of his abundant hair. Walm sighed without trying to hide his fatigue.

A black hole had appeared where the body had been. The more he looked, the more Walm found it to be a strange hole, and he chuckled.

Somehow, black figures had surrounded Walm and the black hole.

Except for the surroundings of the apartment, the world was completely painted in black.

“Should I go in?”

When Walm questioned, one of the black figure clapped its short hands. It quickly turned into a chain of applause.

“Seeing me off? Well, I don’t mind.”

As Walm stepped in, he slowly sank.

The black figures applauded as if praising a child. Walm felt somewhat mocked, but he couldn’t help but smile at the silly scene.

Upon closer inspection, even the black figures were somewhat charming.

Letting himself be carried away by the dream-like, mysterious sensation, Walm surrendered to a light slumber.