Shadowed Gaze: The Highserk War Saga - Chapter 52

Though Walm had been ordered to stand by, Ayane and Maya who possessed healing magic had begun treating the injured in a corner of the castle immediately upon their arrival.

The injuries of the people brought in were different from those sustained in human combat, ranging from contusions and lacerations to bite wounds and poison, putting a strain on medical resources.

Those who had any experience with medical treatment were all mobilized, and treatments proceeded in parallel. The stone-paved room quickly filled with an unpleasant odor, and the floor became stained with waste and congealed blood.

These were to be flushed into the castle’s sewer system, but soon chunks of flesh and hair clogged the flow, causing it to overflow. Walm had to use his wind attribute magic to clear the blockage.

If they ran out of magical power, they would be allowed to rest until it was restored, but there were too many injured. Especially among the refugees, many could not receive adequate treatment.

“If only I had more magical power…”

Ayane said regretfully, looking down at the ground. Walm spoke to the grieving girl.

“You’ve cast healing magic on over 100 people. Expecting more than that might be too much.”

For an average healing mage, healing 10 people would be considered outstanding, and they should be proud of the lives they’ve saved.

“We’re running out of medicine and herbs. Even boiled water is scarce…”

Even Maya, who usually approached Walm with a brave demeanor, let out a sigh of despair.

“The well water won’t be enough, will it?”

The demand for water from the well was too high. It was a natural consequence of having far more people in the castle than it could accommodate.

“I’ll use water and fire magic to create hot water.”

“You have three attributes?”

Ayane said with a look of surprise. Walm had only used fire and wind attribute magic in battle, so her surprise was understandable. Besides, Walm’s water attribute magic wasn’t very impressive.

“My aptitude for water attribute is just at the threshold, so it’s not useful in combat. It’s nostalgic. My former squad mates used to call me a walking water bottle.”

“…”

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling tired from running out of magic?”

Fatigue from depletion of magical power usually comes with nausea and dizziness. Walm asked Ayane, who fell silent, if it was due to a deterioration in her condition.

“No, I’m fine.”

If she collapsed from overexertion, it would defeat the purpose. As Walm hesitated on whether to force her to rest, Maya handed him a water jug.

“Please, Walm.”

Their eyes were ablaze with a sense of mission. They wouldn’t leave the treatment area unless dragged away. Walm gave in and decided to compromise.

“Don’t overdo it. If you feel dizzy or nauseous, you must rest. It takes time for magical power to return. Understand?”

After confirming that both nodded, Walm focused on his task. He wanted to believe there would be no assassination attempts under these circumstances, but he had to consider the possibility.

Moritz and four guards, while helping with the tasks, did not neglect their vigilance.

“I had no idea Lord Walm was a bearer of water attribute magic.”

“I’ll brew some fruit tea when we get back to our room.”

“That would be an honor. But where did you get the fruit?”

“I acquired it when leaving the Sarajevo Fortress, from supplies that weren’t likely to be moved out.”

The supplies in the chaotic Sarajevo Fortress couldn’t all be moved out in time, and many were left behind.

Walm had stuffed his magic bag with as much as he could, including supplies meant for high-ranking officers.

He had collected these supplies during the retreat’s confusion, a method taught to him by a dark-skinned friend in his former squad, which he never thought would come in handy.

“Well, well, you seem serious, Lord Walm,”

Moritz chuckled softly, then returned to work without continuing the conversation.

The treatment continued even after the sun set, and Walm returned to the standby room, exhausted. He had used more magical power than expected for cauterizing and boiling instruments.

On the long table arranged by Moritz from inside the castle were black baked bread boasting the strength of steel, a soup of mashed horse meat and potatoes, and a whole roast with an orc’s head, likely from a recent hunt.

“Oh, oh… uh…”

Walm froze in front of the orc. He knew that edible monsters existed, but he never thought the day would come when one was laid out in front of him.

On the battlefield, during times of food scarcity soldiers sometimes resorted to eating monsters, but Walm had always been one of the foremost soldiers on the front lines.

Death was a constant companion, and while it was hard not to expect abundant support from friendly forces, they could take all the remaining supplies and even barter captured goods.

Whether in the army or the battalion, the Duwey squad and Walm as an individual had never faced a shortage of supplies.

After distributing fruit tea he had brewed for everyone and taking a sip himself, Walm collected his thoughts.

“Roasted orc? That brings back memories,” Moritz commented without hesitation as he tossed a piece of orc meat into his mouth.

Ah, God. If such a being existed, it must surely be a miserable one, Walm thought bitterly to himself.

That’s right. Moritz, who had a resistance to poison, once happily told Walm about eating insect-type magical creatures, especially those with poison, in order to acquire and strengthen his skills. He truly had a taste for the bizarre.

The other four guards also ate the orc without any sign of hesitation, smiles on their faces. Walm cursed this absurd reality.

Then, Walm turned his hopeful gaze towards Ayane, thinking that she, coming from the same world as him, would show a reaction of rejection to eating monsters—

“…”

His faint hope was betrayed. Ayane was amiably munching on the orc’s ear alongside Maya.

“It’s nostalgic. The first monster I dissected and ate with my childhood friends during forest training,” she reminisced.

“Lord Yuuto, Lady Makoto, and Lady Johanna of Rehazen were there,” Maya added.

If it weren’t for the context of eating monsters, Walm might have felt a sense of sadness or loneliness from the girls’ distant memories. But he was too preoccupied to care, especially since they were talking about people he had fought and nearly been killed by. It was a double torment for Walm.

“I see.”

Trying to calm his breathing, Walm watched as a plate was placed before him. On it were parts—the orc’s nose and tongue.

“Here, these are especially delicious parts,” someone said.

Walm nearly let his demon fire spill out in anger, feeling betrayed by his capable subordinates. And worse, it was out of kindness that made it even more unbearable.

What is this? There’s no more time to delay. Walm steeled himself, picking up the orc’s nose with a fork.

He hated its octagonal shape. It was rubbery, yet softer. The aroma of the spices was appetizing, with no sense of disgust. Walm bit down on it resolutely.

“…”

It had a good elasticity, not too hard, and the saltiness enhanced the flavor of the meat. It was gelatinous. Walm didn’t want to admit it, but it was delicious.

“This is good.”

Walm muttered, and as he looked up, he found everyone’s eyes on him.

“What are you looking at? Eat up and go to sleep. The real battle starts tomorrow.”

With Walm’s angry words, everyone looked away and resumed their meals. Even Maya was barely holding back a smile.

Walm drank his fruit tea and exhaled. Amidst the looming war and chaos, where friend and foe were intertwined, he hadn’t expected to share a laugh. Just for now, he wanted to relax. After all, hell would continue from tomorrow.