Shadowed Gaze: The Highserk War Saga - Chapter 23

Yuuto Asama was gazing down at the scars he had inflicted on the earth. This wasn’t his first battle, but the act of taking a life always left him sentimental.

It had been half a year since Yuuto arrived in this world. While walking home from school with two childhood friends, they were led by a black cat to an old, deserted shrine. Losing sight of the cat and finding no one around, they attempted to leave but were suddenly sucked into a black vortex.

When Yuuto awoke, he was no longer at the shrine but had been transported to an ancient stone ruin. Stepping outside, he was surrounded by people who seemed out of place in time. Johanna, a female knight from the Rehazen Knight Order, patiently explained the situation to the bewildered Yuuto.

After four hours of conversation and demonstrations of magic and skills, Yuuto was convinced he was in another world. Under Johanna’s guidance, he and his friends trained daily in knowledge and skills, becoming known as the “Three Heroes from Another World” and actively contributing to the kingdom.

Yuuto, in particular, developed battle-oriented magic and skills. Yuuto, who originally had high athletic abilities and was selected for the representative team in sports, seemed to be devoting himself to battle, perhaps as a way to forget his former world.

In the Crest Kingdom, where powerful demonic territories were nearby, monsters were both hated enemies and valuable resources. The day Yuuto hesitantly ate an orc he had slain remained vivid in his memory.

Killing humans, however, was something Yuuto never got used to. His first experience of directing his sword against another person was in the villages along the demonic territory, where soldiers from the former Canoa Kingdom had become marauding bandits.

Yuuto wasn’t a person overflowing with justice, but he did possess modern ethics and conscience. Deep down, he was reluctant to engage in killing among fellow humans.

When a raiding party cornered the bandits, a major sacrifice was expected for storming their hideout. Shaking with nervousness, Yuuto volunteered to take action. The result was horrific. His skill “Holy Strike” blew up the hideout, instantly killing dozens. In a subsequent scuffle, Yuuto impaled a bandit with his sword.

The sensation in his hand lasted for months, and he struggled to eat properly for days. The immense psychological burden was almost unbearable for a high school student. What helped him overcome this were the knights and his two childhood friends who had also been transported to this world.

Yuuto finally brought his thoughts back to reality.

“How many did I kill…”

His “Holy Strike” had obliterated the enemy’s command building and likely killed 40 or 50 people, including retreating Highserk soldiers. Though villagers and comrades thanked him, Yuuto’s heart remained heavy.

“Yuuto, what are you thinking?”

Makoto Izaki, another person who had been transported to this world, approached Yuuto.

“Makoto, huh…”

“Disappointed it’s me? Ayane is treating the injured.”

Makoto, who had also participated in the battle and killed enemy soldiers with her area magic, tried to comfort Yuuto.

“We’ve worried enough. It’s tough to switch gears, but we have no choice but to live in this world.”

“Yeah, we can’t go back, can we?”

Yuuto realized he couldn’t return to his former world or a life without conflict. He had been fortunate in this world, adapting thanks to his guardians and living a life that could be considered upper-class here. Those without power in this world faced merciless subjugation, as he had witnessed repeatedly.

If the aggressive Highserk Empire was left unchecked, Crest Kingdom might also become a vassal state like Mayard Duchy or Canoa Kingdom. Yuuto had decided to protect the country that had taken him in, his place of belonging, and his friends. There was no turning back from the path of battle.

“Don’t worry. Johanna, I, and others are here. Let’s do our best.”

“Yeah, I’ll survive in this world no matter what.”

“Right… Oh, you haven’t eaten yet. Let’s have some food. There’s dried orc meat and bean soup, and oil-preserved fighting swordfish.”

“Orc again, huh? It looks weird, but the taste grows on you.”

“Yeah. Let’s invite Ayane too and eat together.”

Led by Makoto, Yuuto disappeared into the tent. Despite what he had lost in this world, he had also gained much. Somehow, Yuuto managed to shift his focus to the meal ahead.