What Do You Wish For With Murky Eyes: Record of Highserk War - Chapter 55

The wind blades released from the blade, imbued with wind attribute magic, painted a bloody flower on the approaching monsters below. Unlike the dungeon divers, who place the highest priority on fighting and collecting, Al was an adventurer who had risen through the ranks with escort missions and defeating demons. He has already faced around a hundred battles with monsters. However, in the face of this number, how many humans can remain undaunted?

Already, Al has unleashed dozens of wind attribute magics. His lover, Amy, continues to shoot down monsters with her «Strong Bow». Fleck, who lacks his own long-range attack means, is dedicated to throwing stones.

The earth and sand produced during the moat construction have accumulated on the castle rampart. The magically refined earth projectiles, created by the earth attribute magic-wielding magic soldiers, are as hard as stones. Combined with Fleck’s strength in freely manipulating a large shield, it was more than enough to break an orc’s skull.

The effect should be there. It should have been there. However, the monsters remain unshaken. It’s like continuously throwing small stones into the vast ocean.

Inside the castle, the villagers from the village where Al lived have taken refuge. They can’t let themselves be reduced to dust, nor can they allow the castle walls to be breached. So, Al recalls his former party members.

The Four Nations Alliance initiated a resistance operation against the Highserk Empire. At first, it was just a rumor, but they actually began gathering adventurers at exorbitant prices.

The details of the operation were kept secret until the last minute, and the request itself was suspiciously dangerous with an unprecedented reward. Amy and Fleck’s injuries were not completely healed, and Al himself was no exception. The Myard Principality suffered a devastating defeat in the capital, Aidenburg, and except for the Lake Celta territory, it was annexed.

In the wake of the principality’s defeat, Al fell into a sense of loss and powerlessness, and the lingering wounds of the party members further deterred him from taking on requests.

Perhaps his attention was scattered. Al didn’t notice that two members had left the hideout. Considering the timing, they must have accepted a request. Leetia had shown interest in the Four Nations Alliance’s request.

Even though party members were seriously injured, and Myard soldiers were slain, Al vaguely sensed that black emotions had taken root in Leetia’s eyes.

He took care of them. Lefty was with them, and he convinced himself that they wouldn’t take reckless actions. Al, realizing his mistake, hoped for the safety of the two, but what followed was a major rampage.

The cause was unclear, and no reliable information came in, but considering the timing, there was no doubt that the Four Nations Alliance had plotted something. Moreover, they used adventurers for it.

Al wanted to be concerned about the well-being of the two, but in the face of the approaching major rampage, he couldn’t afford any spare energy.

With his magic running out and the monsters gaining momentum, Al felt himself growing weak. Who could stop something like this?

Al doubted his eyes at the abnormal sight. Someone was standing at the edge of the castle wall path.

“What are you doing!?”

The Highserk soldier threw himself from the castle rampart. Whether they had gone mad or were pushed was unclear, but the monsters covering the ground seemed eager to welcome the incoming humans.

Throughout the previous battles, Al had seen soldiers falling from the path meticulously torn to shreds.

As a wind attribute magic user, Al might be able to climb the castle rampart, but saving soldiers while scattering monsters, and returning to the castle rampart, was nearly impossible, if not entirely so.

Al kept his eyes locked without looking away, and through the man’s mask, clouded eyes intersected with Al’s gaze. A chill ran down his spine, and his hair stood on end.

Those clouded eyes belonged to the person who had frozen Al’s spine.

From the body of the soldier who leapt into the void, visible magic flowed, carrying unbearable heat and a stormy wind.

“Oh, it’s the ‘Beckoning Fire of the Underworld’!”

“Walm, the Guard Commander, has been dispatched.”

Al had heard rumors about it. In the Battle of Aidenburg, the «Ignis Fatuus» user of Highserk had incinerated the Ferrius elite guards, and in the siege of Sarajevo Fortress, single-handedly trampled the enemy’s command structure and camp, capturing one of Craist’s Three Heroes.

The monsters, which had reached out, collectively screamed and tried to distance themselves in a frenzy, showing a rampage worthy of being called madness. The creatures that had been trampling with such madness were now thrashing around to escape the blue flames.

“To think it would come to this.”

Even through the magic membrane, Al could feel the heat, and his lips and eyes dried up. Al, considering what would happen if a magic-drained human received this at close range, let his imagination wander and involuntarily cleared his throat.

If they were allies, there would be nothing more reassuring. However, for those who became adversaries, the flames of the underworld awaited.

Recalling the exchange at the city gate, Al gently touched his swollen cheek. He was fortunate that it ended with just this. After all, if they had the intention, they had the power to wipe out the entirety of the villagers, including Al. At the same time, Al sincerely appreciated that Walm hadn’t awakened to «Ignis Fatuus» when they battled each other in the past. If Walm had awakened, there would have been no chance for forgiveness. All that would remain would be a pile of charred corpses.

The blue flames continued to burn the monsters. Including Al, the soldiers on the nearby castle rampart were captivated by the blue flames as if possessed.

—————-

Three days after the large rampage reached Dandurg Castle, shadows began to appear for the Highselk Imperial Army, which had been consistently gaining an advantage in the extermination of monsters.

Apart from the intrusion of flying or highly leaping monsters, neither the castle gates nor the walls had been breached. The high-ranking A-class monsters, such as the feared rampaging dragon, had not been confirmed.

However, the fatigue of the Highserk soldiers, who continued to fight in shifts, had reached its peak. After all, the number of monsters from outside the city, pouring in day and night, showed no signs of decreasing, despite having already exterminated well over 30,000 monsters.

Walm consumed magic power with «Ignis Fatuus», and three hours had passed. In another one or two hours, he would have to use the «Ignis Fatuus» against the monsters again.

The soldiers crowded into the barracks for a break were sleeping as if dead. Walm, too, had just covered his ears with a cloak and fallen asleep moments ago. The stench of decaying monsters around the castle was wafting in. The indoors would likely be filled with the smell of sweat, blood, and accumulated grime, but Walm’s sense of smell had already gone awry.

Fortunately, there was a somewhat solution for the corpses outside. Living monsters were consuming the dead monsters as a source of provisions.

After rolling over and finally finding a somewhat comfortable spot to settle down, a soldier stopped in front of Walm when he began to breathe in his sleep.

Walm squinted to confirm. Surely, there would be no foolhardy person in Dandurg Castle who would wake a soldier catching precious sleep for casual conversation or a meal.

“Apologies for interrupting your break. Due to urgent news, the brigade commander is summoning Guard Commander-sama,” the soldier said.

He was a messenger from the headquarters. Judging by the fact that he took the trouble to whisper, Walm, despite his sluggish brain, inferred that it must be an important matter.

“Understood. I’ll head there immediately.”

Walm quickly tidied himself up and followed the messenger into one of the rooms in the headquarters.

“Sorry for the delay.”

“Guard Commander Walm, you’ve come.”

Brigade Commander Sigismund welcomed Walm.

“How’s the frontline?”

Walm reported the current situation without reservation.

“We’ve been successful in repelling the constant onslaught of monsters day and night, but the fatigue of the soldiers is reaching its peak. The number of arrows and projectiles is also decreasing, and currently, the stopping power of the magical soldiers is our lifeline.”

The attacks of magical soldiers with excellent firepower in fire and wind attributes were the core of the stopping power against the advancing monsters. In terms of exhaustion, the magical soldiers with earth and water attributes were not inferior.

After all, the earth attribute magical soldiers, who could solidify the earth, were diligently involved in producing earth projectiles, supporting the dwindling supply of thrown weapons.

Regarding water attribute magic, it was indispensable not only for offensive magic but also for supporting the drinking water inside the castle.

“How much longer do you think we can hold on?”

The number of monsters continues to increase, the fatigue of the soldiers accumulates, and their tactics have become more sophisticated. Despite the ongoing recruitment of large numbers of volunteers, the current situation is not promising.

“… I believe maintaining the current situation is possible for another 2 or 3 days at most. They have become more cunning, digging into the ground and preparing logs resembling battering rams in their desperate attempts to overcome the city walls.”

Walm, prepared for criticism due to his pessimistic outlook, was received favorably.

“That’s a good read. Melee combat will begin in 2 or 3 days, and the depletion will skyrocket.”

“So far, we’ve maintained the rear communication lines to the homeland. With the little strength we have left, we plan to abandon Dandurg Castle and intercept them in old Kanoa. The planned location has been decided, and we’re already quietly preparing for the withdrawal of the troops.”

With an uneasy premonition, Walm cautiously raised questions.

“Is it kept quiet to avoid confusion?”

“Yes, to avoid confusion. We will start the simultaneous withdrawal the day after tomorrow in the early morning. The emphasis on the soldiers on the castle rampart will shift towards volunteers and prisoners.”

Sooner or later, a retreat was expected. However, Walm had believed it would be done gradually. The news of a simultaneous withdrawal the day after tomorrow was completely unexpected.

“A simultaneous withdrawal the day after tomorrow!? What about the Myard civilians crowded inside the castle?”

“Regrettably, those who can’t make it in time will have to take refuge in the fortress and wait for the Great Outbreak to pass.”

“To pass by…? With all due respect, isn’t it more accurate to say engulfed? There are only so many people who can get through the gates, with it’s limited entry and exits. Even Highserk soldiers are going to get left behind. ”

Not only are there limited entrances and exits, but the castle is burdened with an excessive number of refugees. It was impossible for a smooth retreat to take place. Walm’s opinion remained unspoken until the end.

“You are not alone in your dissatisfaction and objections. But can we defend against this properly? With this level of exhaustion in a short period, fighting until annihilation, it’s not something that can be held up,” the gray-haired brigade commander implied something that a military man could understand. Essentially, it involved dangling an enticing bait, luring the enemy, depleting their strength, and buying time with disposable pawns.

What Walm found hard to accept was that the bait consisted of the majority of Myard citizens, and the rescue of these citizens was never part of the plan. Only those who could keep up were expected to follow. That was the extent of consideration.

“Guard Commander, I’ve heard from His Excellency Gerald that you’re a loyal soldier. This is an order.”

It was a rescue with malicious intent. The characteristic of the Great Outbreak is its tendency to rush into densely populated areas. If the seasoned Highserk soldiers gather significant forces in Dandurg Castle, Myard citizens seeking shelter would naturally gather there.

In this way, they lure and slaughter monsters into the sturdy stronghold harboring refugees. Abruptly retreating from the castle without any guidance, holding a multitude of people almost overflowing within the castle, it is not difficult to imagine the result.

In Walm’s mind, an image of a seemingly kind smile adorning the face of an old general known as the God of War appears. A man with the ruthlessness to throw foreigners into a boiling pot of hell for the sake of saving as many of his own people as possible, coupled with a strong sense of patriotism.

“Of course, mum’s the word. Although there should be no concern for a guard commander faithful to military duty, just to be sure.”

The brigade commander wore a smiling expression, but his eyes were stained black, and there was no laughter in his gaze. He seemed to be of the same kind as the God of War.

It would be easy to hurl insults, calling him inhuman and labeling him as an evildoer. In the brigade commander’s eyes, there was an unwavering color of conviction and determination. Quite literally, he intended to offer foreigners as sacrifices to accomplish the defense of his homeland.

No matter what Walm said, nothing would change. It was unalterable.

“For the guard commander, I want you to dedicate yourself to maintaining the communication lines. If all goes well, you might be able to save ‘some’ Myard citizens,” the brigade commander whispered, as if sensing hesitation.

Could he refuse? Walm was a soldier of the Highserk Empire, just a citizen. Would he lead his homeland to ruin by worrying too much about the people of another country? What does he wish for with his ‘murky eyes’ at this point? Walm gritted his back teeth and responded.

“Understood, I will do so.”