What Do You Wish For With Murky Eyes: Record of Highserk War - Chapter 41

With consciousness regained, Walm was guided to a room within the fortress.

This marked his third meeting with Commander Gerald Berger. Previously, it had been with the entire squad, but now Walm alone reunited with the seasoned veteran.

“I’ve been waiting. Please have a seat.”

“Excuse me.”

Walm took a seat across from him without hesitation.

“First, I must express my gratitude. Achieving the feat of facing the Four Nations Alliance single-handedly, burning the camp, destroying the command structure, and capturing one of the Three Heroes. Your accomplishments rival legends and myths. Now, in the Anti Ferrius Army, there is no one who doesn’t know Walm-kun.”

To be frank, it was an excessive evaluation. Walm fell into a trap and merely survived with the corpses for a week. Moreover, he only managed to survive by sheer luck.

“I am overwhelmed to be praised by the God of War. However, the praise is excessive and you are overestimating me—surviving was merely a product of chance. I couldn’t do anything while the battalion was on the brink of destruction.”

“The annihilation of the Liguria Battalion is an unbearable loss both personally and publicly. With only a handful of core members remaining and no prospects for reconstruction. But, Walm-kun, it’s not good to undervalue what you’ve accomplished. If that’s considered excessive praise, then calling me the God of War is the same. In the face of death, true nature becomes transparent. You achieved something. You must be given the recognition and rewards befitting it.”

Gerald Berger declared to Walm without hesitation, “I won’t hear any objections.”

“The heroic deeds of Walm-kun have reached our homeland through magical communication devices. You are scheduled to receive the title of a knight, an honorary title from the Imperial Council.”

“A knight?” Walm had to repeat and chew on the words to understand Gerald’s statement.

“I am the third son of a farmer. The status of a knight is… Do we even have knights in our army to begin with?”

The third son of a farmer with a farmland the size of an goblin’s forehead has no standing as a knight. To be chosen as a knight, Walm could only feel bewildered.

Moreover, in this world where military affairs were still developing, military units and ranks were unclear, and different countries had mixed influences. Walm had never heard of a knight’s rank within the Highserk Empire Army.

“It’s understandable if you don’t know. It’s a relic of an era when outdated military units and ranks prevailed. Now, it’s nothing more than an honorary title in our country. Still, the title of a knight can be useful both domestically and internationally.”

Walm pictured the title of a knight in his mind as something like a medal with neither practical benefits nor drawbacks.

“Unfortunately, there is no option to decline. After all, those who have received the title of a knight in recent years are all deceased. The Imperial Council is seeking a living hero. Congratulations, you’ve taken the first step toward becoming a military god.”

“Oh, I’m truly honored.”

With a genuinely pleasant smile on his face, Gerald watched as Walm returned the smile with a strained expression.

“No need to fear; it’s already too late. Well, just talking isn’t entertaining. Let me give you this first.”

Gerald gestured, and a servant brought out a heavy box wrapped in cloth. Unwrapping the cloth revealed a sword laying in the box, sturdy and unadorned, a weapon designed purely for practicality.

“This is a sword bestowed upon those who embody the martial prowess of the Highserk Empire. It’s remarkable. A masterpiece forged from dragonfire iron and magic silver alloy. It’s a treasure given only to those who hold the title of a knight.”

Gerald unsheathed the sword, and Walm gasped. The blade, tinged with a faint vermilion hue, seemed to radiate light even in the room.

“Seems like you’re fond of it. The sword is already yours, Walm-kun. Try channeling some magic into it, just as a test.”

Following Gerald’s instructions, Walm pushed magic into the sword using the technique of «Heavy Strike». The blade began to turn red. Enthralled by the color, Walm traced his gaze from the tip to the guard.

What would happen if he used «Ignis Fatuus» in this state? Driven by curiosity, Walm applied «Ignis Fatuus» to the blade.

The blade transitioned from a faint vermilion to a bluish hue, and the air in the room quickly heated up, causing the atmosphere to tremble.

“…Incredible.”

Gerald uttered the words, and as the oni mask trembled, Walm snapped back to reality.

“I apologize. I got carried away.”

“I was the one who incited it. No need to apologize.”

As Walm turned around, a guard who had been waiting by the door suddenly entered.

“It was a little demonstration. My apologies.”

In response to Gerald’s words, the guard expressed dissatisfaction.

“Please refrain from such jests.”

As Gerald waved his hand, the guard retreated outside the room. His eyes were captivated by the blade.

“You’ve shown me something good. As a gift, let me give you something personally.”

Next, what was handed over was a well-worn pouch.

“This is… no way.”

“Yes, it’s a magic bag. It’s not something that goes beyond personal use. Still, merchants in the area would pay a hefty sum to acquire it.”

“Such an expensive item.”

“I obtained it in my youth. I kept it for nostalgia, but there’s a replacement now. No need to hold back.”

“…Thank you very much.”

“Now, we can continue chatting like this, but wasn’t there something else?”

Feeling a sense of unease in the words of the veteran commander, Walm furrowed his brows. He had a bad feeling about this.

“Oh, right. About Walm-kun’s affiliation. It’s under my direct command now.”

“Under Your Excellency’s direct command?”

“It’s quite convenient, actually. I had a troublesome task on my mind. It involves guarding and monitoring an important figure, but finding a suitable candidate who’s available has been a challenge.”

Walm’s reason and instinct were warning him of danger.

“There have already been secret attempts at retrieval and even assassination once. I’ve managed to prevent them all, but I need a skilled guard.”

The veteran commander wore a friendly smile, but his true nature was uncertain. Walm regretted biting the poisoned bait, but it was too late.

“One of the Three Heroes of the Craist Kingdom, Ayane Sugimoto.”

“Haha, you must be joking.”

“I’m quite serious.”

“I-if I may be forward, my abilities are most effective during offensives. While I’ve been involved in transport and escort missions, personal guard duty might not be suitable as I’ve no experience.”

“Indeed, your abilities shine during offensives, even aside from «Ignis Fatuus». Stop belittling yourself. And there is no need be ashamed of your lack of experience. Others will be assigned as well. Not to mention having Walm-kun there would also bring ‘peace of mind’ to Ayane.”

Walm inwardly laments the fact that this ‘kind’ and ‘loving’ old man, was asking him to guard the person he tricked into healing him and then tried to kill.

“Will you accept?”

“…Understood.”

Unfortunately, even as a knight, he still had no right to refuse. Gerald lightly patted Walm’s shoulder as he nodded.