What Do You Wish For With Murky Eyes: Record of Highserk War - Chapter 7

“Somehow I’ve survived.”

As the sun set, the Sarria and Liguria battalions, which had played significant roles, entered one of the barracks where the troops were stationed and prepared to spend the night.

The smoke from cooking drifted up into the sky. In a corner of the fortress, enemy prisoners, who had been disarmed, were gathered in one place.

In the past, they were often sold as slaves for foreign currency, but now they were released if they engaged in maintenance or worked for a set number of years as serfs within the Highserk Empire.

Some individuals with ties to slave traders and certain soldiers opposed this, but since it was a territory slated for annexation and surrendering had increased, it was becoming the mainstream.

Although wounded, Noor, who had been taken care of by Walm in this battle, was alive. She had taken down one person in that chaotic melee and survived the baptism successfully. Barito, whom Jose had taken care of, had a wilted cockscomb but was unharmed.

In front of Walm now, newcomers were boasting about their achievements and spoils of war.

“Look, Walm senpai!! It’s a gold coin! Hehe, I can’t believe it, it’s a gold coin.”

“Hey, that’s from the one Walm-san killed, isn’t it? That’s sneaky.”

What Noor held in his hand was a gold coin, enough for one person from the impoverished class to live for a year. For people in rural areas, it was a fortune. Walm was inwardly disgusted as he looked at Noor, who wore a sloppy and contorted expression on her face.

After quickly scavenging the dead soldiers, Jose had found a barrel of ale in the soldiers’ mess and had succeeded in securing a platoon’s worth of booze and a place to sleep. Walm praised Jose for his excellent skills.

In addition to the celebratory victory wine, there was apparently a reward from the battalion commander, and the slightly chubby Platoon Leader Kozul was in high spirits throughout. Despite the injuries, with no deaths in the squad after such a battle, the atmosphere was bright.

The two full moons seemed to bless the victory, but at the same time, they reminded Walm that this world was indeed a different world. In a corner of the room, Willart quietly sipped his wine.

“Willart, that fireball was impressive. Thanks for saving us.”

Walm, in high spirits and a cup in hand, thanked Willart. Willart modestly raised his cup in response.

“Ah… Walm, are you interested?”

It was rare for Willart to bring up a conversation. Walm answered eagerly.

“Of course. Who wouldn’t be interested in magic?”

There was no boy who disliked magic. Willart, averting his gaze from Walm, once again immersed himself in his own world.

Walm returned to his seat-cum-sleeping space and started drinking again, emptying the cup. His bladder screamed as he filled himself to the brim.

Walm reflects, thinking he might have been a bit too cheerful. He couldn’t just let it out in the building, so he distanced himself from the commotion to find a convenient place.

Finally finding a secluded corner, he relieved himself, and a small scream rang out.

Despite having been drinking, he is in enemy territory. He still had a longsword hanging at his waist.

Entering a room with his hands at the ready, he found a woman whose hands and feet were held down, and her clothes were being stripped off. Standing nearby was a soldier from the Sarria battalion.

“What are you doing?”

Walm inquired with a hint of anger, and the soldiers answered without remorse.

“You can tell just by looking. We’re about to have some fun.”

“If you wanna join, I’m fine going last.”

It was not uncommon for female soldiers to be violated, but she definitely looked like a civilian. Probably the family of some soldier stationed in the fortress. It was a common story on the battlefield. Still, it was not something Walm could tolerate.

“Because the people in the fortress surrendered conditionally, looting and humiliating civilians is not allowed this time. It’s a violation of military law. If it’s exposed, you won’t escape a whipping.”

Even those three fools drew a line in front of military regulations.

“Are you a saint pretending to be a knight, damn you.”

“Don’t underestimate me. I’ve killed many people on the front lines.”

Two soldiers approached Walm. Their bodies, illuminated by moonlight, were well trained. They would be good soldiers on the battlefield.

“…So what if you’ve killed a few people?”

In his previous life, Walm might have been intimidated, but now, after countless exchaning of lives, something like this wasn’t even a battlefield. The battle on the rampart walkway was much more dangerous.

Answering in a flat tone, caused the soldiers to stop. It seemed they had recognized Walm. His body, without armor, was marked with countless scars as evidence of battles.

“…Tch, I lost interest. Let’s go drink again.”

The standoff continued, until the leader among them gave in. Watching the soldiers leave, Walm turned to face the woman.

From the perspective of the civilians, they were all in the same boat. Walm had no intention of getting involved more than necessary.

“Go home, lock the door securely. If it seems like it’s about to be broken down or you’re about to be abducted, scream with all your might. Got it… understood?”

“Y-yes.”

The woman, who hastily put on her clothes, nodded several times and ran off. This was pointless. In the corner of Walm’s mind, the thought occurred that such things were happening everywhere.

What would change? Certainly, he had killed many, but he did not remember abandoning his moral compass.

Returning to the room, squad members were singing. It was a typical tale of a hero rising from the common folk. It was an absurd comparison, but it was a far cry from Walm’s current self.

Although the color remained the same, Walm, who had killed many on the battlefield, could see his eyes becoming murky with the depravity.

It was a violent and crazy era, but the soldiers, intoxicated by alcohol, were enjoying life as if the daytime killings were lies. Perhaps they would go mad if they didn’t make a commotion.

Walm had grown accustomed to it, he switched his consciousness and joined in the revelry.

The road stretching through the forest seemed to continue endlessly with its winding twists and turns. The column of supply troops from the Highserk Empire’s army marched forward without rest.

The transportation of supplies through magic bags revolutionized logistical maintenance. The high-speed transport of magic bags, combined with transit by fully armed cavalrymen, enabled the delivery of large quantities of supplies to the frontline troops.

Nevertheless, supply troops were not obsolete. The number of magic bags, a rare magical tool, was used for transporting to accumulation points, and anything that couldn’t fit into them had to be carried by wagons or manpower. Among these supply troops was Hody, pulling a cart alongside pack animals.

Soldiers fighting on the frontline sometimes ridiculed those in logistics, comparing them to failed soldiers or livestock. However, Hody himself took pride in being a supply troop and had a military career of seven years dedicated solely to logistics.

Once, Hody was approached by Commander Gerald Berger, the military god of the Highserk Empire, but it happened only once. It was a day when he continued transporting supplies throughout the night in the pouring rain.

After finishing the cargo check and unloading supplies, Hody was suddenly tapped on the shoulder. Expecting another guard bringing some complaint, he turned around, and there stood Commander Berger.

Without waiting for any courtesy and facing the frozen Hody, Commander Berger took his hand and said with a serious gaze, “You’ve been working hard until late. Supply troops are a crucial presence supporting our army. We can fight because of supply troops like you. You’re a pride of the country.”

Since then, Hody has considered this job the best. Even if not recognized by many, the fact that the military god acknowledged him was enough.

“You look tired,”

Hody greeted a soldier who had recently joined the unit. He was a man who had lost an eye in combat, with his sense of distance gone, he drifted to the supply squad.

“Well, when you’re pulling something this heavy…”

Without a trace of sarcasm, the one-eyed soldier breathed out.

“Put some on my cart. It’s light, and my body’s getting sluggish.”

Thinking it was a joke, the one-eyed soldier laughed it off, but Hody held his course with his cart, and began transferring some of the soldier’s cargo.

“Hey, seriously?”

“I’ve been a supply troop specialist for seven years straight. From siege towers to battering rams to risking my life for dead fish, I’ve rushed to Liberitoa, old Kanoamyard, and everywhere in Highserk, carrying anything. This is a piece of cake.”

Hody pounded his chest, and the one-eyed soldier burst into laughter.

“What’s with that… Thanks. Let me treat you to a drink next time. Honestly, I thought I was getting old, lost an eye, and got shuffled off to the supply squad as a nuisance, but I was wrong. It’s a tougher job than those regular soldiers around.”

Without further conversation, the two continued silently moving the cart.

As the column reached a slope, the speed naturally decreased. When Hody looked ahead to determine the road, wind blew through the gaps in the trees.

The head of the guard walking in front of Hody flew into the void. It was the signal of a simultaneous attack on the column with arrows and magic.

“Enemy ambush!! They’re coming!!”

A soldier shouted, and Ferrius soldiers, along with adventurers, attacked from both sides. An adventurer with a large shield unleashed a horizontal shield bash, literally smashing the head of a soldier.

Friendly soldiers who engaged in combat were hit by arrows from the sides, and they fell to the ground. Temporary hires, merchants, and civilians, without distinction, were all under attack.

Hody hid behind the cart and drew his shortsword. Hody didn’t lack combat experience entirely, he had swung a sword against a few monsters and foolish thieves.

“Uraaaahhh!!”

The one charging with a shout was a Ferrius soldier. Hody instinctively stabbed his shortsword into the ground and hurled the cart.

Unable to dodge the suddenly approaching cart in front, the Ferrius soldier ended up pinned underneath. Hody escaped unharmed, but he had made a fatal mistake. His large size and strength had been deemed dangerous.

The blue-haired adventurer glided towards Hody. Before he could draw his shortsword from the ground, a longsword was at his throat. His eyes widened, and he was sure of his impending death.

Instead of the anticipated moment, what reached his ears was the high-pitched sound of metal scraping and a familiar voice.

“Run, Hody!! Tell those behind!”

Swords clashed at an unimaginable speed, making it impossible for Hody to follow. He didn’t want to consider abandoning his comrades and fleeing.

“B-but!!”

“Go, hurry!!”

Once again, swords clashed at an unimaginable speed, and the one-eyed soldier’s body was gradually dyed in red. Hody surveyed the surroundings—guarding soldiers were being killed one after another, fleeing merchants and supply troops were being slaughtered.

“I will. I will definitely carry this information. I swear on the name of the supply troops!!”

Without looking back, Hody kicked off the ground. A spear thrust out by a Ferrius soldier injured his shoulder, and a sword grazed his cheek.

The obstruction at the end of his path was a young girl adventurer, still showing signs of innocence.

“Get out of the way!!”

Due to the ear-piercing shout, the girl’s movements slowed. Hody didn’t feel the pain of the shortsword piercing his arm. Using the difference in size and strength, he collided with the girl, sending her rolling on the ground.

“Leetia!!”

The adventurer called out the name to check on their companion’s safety.

“If she’s that important, lock her in a box or something!! Defeated soldiers and adventurers like you are nothing. If you think you can keep up with his sturdy legs, then go ahead. The legs that have supported Highserk are not cheap!”

The final cry of the one-eyed soldier reached Hody’s ears. Arrows kept coming incessantly, tears streamed down, but Hody didn’t stop; he continued running.