Shadowed Gaze: The Highserk War Saga - Chapter 50

The trees that the storm of monsters had passed through were mowed down, and the ground was scarred with countless claw marks. Ayane was astounded that this destruction was caused by a single beast. At the same time, she felt a deep fear knowing there were humans capable of causing even greater pain to such monsters.

It must be, no, it was undoubtedly his doing, she thought of the soldier who took care of and guarded her, the one known as Walm, who had burned the soldiers of Crest and the knights of Rehazen with blue flames and kidnapped her.

When the irregular tremors of the earth and the roars of the monster ceased, a moment of silence arrived. Immediately after, Ayane felt the Highserk soldiers bustling around and angry shouts approaching the carriage.

“Carry it, don’t let him die!!”

When the tarp of the carriage was opened, what was brought in was a demon fire user, whose half body was crushed. Ayane couldn’t understand how someone could fight to such an extent, crush their body so painfully, and dive into death.

“We’ve taken down the Crawler, but Walm, the Guardian Chief, is seriously injured. He didn’t let go of the raging dragon until he burned it to death.”

“What recklessness, remove his clothes and armor, quickly.”

Moritz, who was mild among the Highserk soldiers and had always been kind to Ayane and Maya, raised his voice in urgency.

“Lady Ayane, please we request your treatment.”

Ayane was taken aback. They were lowering their heads to them, who were supposed to be captives.

“Lady Ayane will handle the limbs, I’ll examine the internal organs and head,” Maya said as she began her palpation. Surprisingly, Walm was still conscious, albeit groggy.

“Does it hurt?”

“Ah… it hurts.”

“His ribs are pulverized. They haven’t pierced the lungs, but his left arm is dislocated, and the upper arm bone is broken. Part of the skin is also missing.”

“Haaa… ahh, can you heal it?”

“It will hurt, but it can be healed.”

Ayane had healed even more severely injured soldiers before. Though the injuries were severe, they were not beyond healing. Ironically, being on the battlefield and continuously treating severely injured soldiers brought to her in quick succession had enhanced Ayane’s skills.

Maya used water magic to clean the dirt that had entered the wound. Some gravel and wood chips had penetrated deep into the body. Ayane grabbed the dislocated shoulder and pushed it back in one swift motion.

Walm endured without a scream. It wasn’t that he didn’t feel pain. His teeth were clenched, his breathing rough, and his eyes wide open.

“You had severe injuries when I treated you before, didn’t you?”

That time was dreadful. Patients with third-degree burns were continuously brought in, and among them was Walm. Ayane had never imagined that he was a disguised Highserk soldier. Upon hearing Ayane’s casual remark, the injured man reacted.

“Yeah, that’s right. That time, our position was blown up with magic. When I woke up in pain, I was on the brink of death, surrounded by the bodies of my comrades.”

Hearing those words, Ayane regretted. There were many Crest soldiers celebrating, having blown away the troublesome demon fire user. Among those attackers were two of Ayane’s childhood friends.

“…I’m sorry.”

At Ayane’s unintentional apology, Walm tilted his head in confusion.

“Why apologize? It’s war. I’ve killed and burned many myself and took you two hostage. I was even ready to kill your childhood friends, high school students.”

Ayane had thought of Walm, who abducted her and tried to burn her childhood friends, as a cold-hearted war maniac.

Yet, she realized he was a human being, no different from herself. Perhaps she had been vaguely aware of it. Even though the soldier in front of her maintained a certain distance, Ayane had felt his subtle care in a short time.

“Unsanitary conditions will hinder the treatment. Though we can’t bathe, it’s better to wash the body with hot water,” Walm, who bluntly said this, diligently boiled water with magic every night, allowing Ayane and Maya to cleanse themselves with a bottle.

Even with the meals, when he found out they couldn’t drink fruit wine, he arranged for an alternative. It was the same when they were nearly assassinated. He interrupted the treatment Ayane was disheartened about and bowed his head to the approaching generals.

Ayane suspected that the combat until just a while ago was also to protect them, his escort targets, by taking dangerous measures. Until now, Ayane, along with Maya, had been cautious, thinking it was all to win them over. But she came to think that the essence of this soldier was rooted in his seriousness. That, in itself, he was a person who took war and killing too seriously, swaying between good and evil.

“Such a thing—”

Ayane was about to speak but stopped, feeling a sense of discomfort. Something about the conversation, the words, was off. Before she could grasp the nature of this unease, she was brought back to reality.

“Enough, Walm. You’re in pain. Lady Ayane, please focus on the treatment first.”

“I’m sorry.”

Moritz, who had been watching the treatment, advised Ayane. Telling herself that there would be time to think later, she concentrated on the use of recovery magic while refining her magical power.