Shadowed Gaze: The Highserk War Saga - Chapter 68

In Dandurg Castle were holed up 12,000 Highserk soldiers, 3,000 former Mayard troops, 7,000 volunteers, and 81,000 refugees. Now, however, their numbers, including both soldiers and civilians, had dwindled to less than 10,000. Young and old, male and female, everyone who could move had in some way been involved in the battle. And this was the result of their involvement.

Outside and around the castle, the bodies of what must have been nearly 100,000 monsters lay scattered. Even now, some overlooked creatures still roamed the area. In a corner of the still-standing tower, those who had become representatives were exchanging opinions.

“We should continue holding up in here. Haven’t we defeated all the monsters?”

A Highserk soldier with one arm in a sling said.

“True, we have defeated them. But our victory was reliant on the Demon Fire,” Deborah, who had been made a temporary platoon leader, brought the conversation back to reality.

The successful defense against the Great Rampage, it sounded sweet in words indeed. Moritz, who had been quietly listening to the opinions, spoke up.

“We have… lost Lord Walm, our pillar of strength.”

Moritz was preparing himself to face this hard-to-accept reality.

The loss of the command center’s functionality and the ensuing chaos within the castle had been managed and continuously fought at the front lines by none other than the hero, Walm. This was Moritz’s evaluation of Walm as a military man.

For Moritz, who had spent most of his military career as an aide in the command center, Walm was a personally supportive figure. He had been grateful for his fortune to serve such a person.

He thought he had found a lord worth serving. But with Walm’s loss, Moritz was plunged into the depths of despair. Yet, 10,000 soldiers and civilians had survived. He couldn’t afford to stagnate.

“Without Battalion Commander Walm, our defense is meaningless.”

“We fought together at the rear, but the number of monsters he single-handedly defeated is uncountable. Even if we deployed the whole battalion, could we achieve the same results?”

“Moreover, he defeated the Crawler, the Tyrant Worm, and the Ogre Lord. Who else could do the same?”

Nepolk and Friug, survivors from Walm’s unit, said with trembling voices. Moritz could understand their emotions well.

The search of the castle until the very end was conducted by their units.

They had fought under a hero who would be spoken of for generations to come and had won a siege battle that was supposed to be doomed. And now, the hero of that battle was no longer there. Who could possibly shout about victory with conviction?

Moritz turned his gaze to Ayane, who was part of the military council. The fatigue from healing and the mental strain from the gruesome battlefield were immense, and above all, the burden of Walm’s failure to return – who had always come back despite grave injuries – must have been enormous.

Her somewhat absent-minded appearance was truly pitiable. How cruel for a master to make a young girl grieve and leave her behind. For the first time, Moritz cursed his late master.

He was aware of the folly of his actions. After all, he had healed Walm, who had suffered injuries severe enough to be fatal, and sent him back to the battlefield.

In Dandurg Castle, Walm’s return to the battle lines had been eagerly awaited. It was natural for those who had seen him from behind as a soldier. Even Moritz had wished for the hero Walm.

More than the loss of the hero Walm, those who knew him personally mourned the loss of Walm as an individual. Among them was Moritz, who, despite his brief acquaintance, was deeply saddened. But the one who bore the most grief was undoubtedly Ayane, who had exchanged words with him and seen him off last.

Despite being a prisoner under surveillance, there was a mutual understanding and connection between the two that Moritz could not comprehend. He believed it was Ayane’s dedication and connection that brought Walm back from the brink of death. Therefore, the sense of loss Ayane felt was immeasurable to Moritz.

Walm had returned to the medical facility no matter how gravely injured he was. But this time, he had not returned. Ayane’s shock was not something that could be healed.

Even though the meeting was filled with sentiment, it had to proceed. Moritz listened to the words of the brigade commander.

“Our homeland has been flooded with 200,000 monsters along with the Flame Emperor Dragon, and we can’t get in touch with the other two armies through the magical communication devices, not even with the Imperial City.”

Justus, who had become the highest-ranking brigade commander after narrowly escaping the Flame Emperor Dragon’s breath, stated the current situation.

His thin hair was polished, and deep bags under his eyes were evident. Moritz knew well that he was the shadowy mainstay of the defense of Dandurg Castle.

Without Justus the number of survivors would have been less than half of what it was. He had managed the diversion of forces to delay the breakdown, distribution of supplies, and guiding of civilians, even while commanding one side of the battle.

Moritz surmised that the Flame Emperor Dragon, which had destroyed their homeland, would most likely return to its abode in the Demonic Territory. If so, there was a fear it would retrace its path back here. Then, indeed, no humans would be left in Dandurg Castle.

“We have no choice but to beg for forgiveness and mercy from Mayard in the Selta territory.”

“Impossible! To rely on Mayard… they are part of the root cause of our destruction!”

“Brigade Commander Justus, are you serious?”

“I am a soldier of the Highserk Empire, albeit at a lower level. I worry for the nation and am prepared to sacrifice myself if needed. I have family and friends in the Imperial City. But all of that no longer exists.”

Justus scattered the documents he held onto the desk.

“These are records of communications made using the magical communication devices. I refrained from making them public due to the uncertain situation.”

The Highserk soldiers’ reactions varied as they scrutinized the scattered documents with intense focus.

“The First and Second Armies, annihilated… Lord Gerald has fallen in battle at the castle… The Emperor’s evacuation is…”

“The Flame Emperor Dragon breached Dandurg and invaded the Imperial City in just a day?”

“All communication with the major cities has ceased. No response from the Imperial territories through the magical communication devices. The only place within communication range is the Mayard’s Selta Territory.”

Justus waited until everyone had finished reading the documents, then spoke as if squeezing out the words. The loss of communication signified the disappearance of humans from the surrounding area. Moritz was confronted with reality once again. At the same time, he was astounded by Justus’s boldness for concealing this information while knowing the circumstances and continuing to command.

“I don’t want to admit it… but the Highserk Empire is not just on the brink of destruction, it has already fallen.”

“Our Highserk… no…”

“We lost? The what’s the purpose of us being here?”

“Impossible. It can’t be. My family is in the homeland. When the campaign was over, I planned to buy souvenirs for the capital with my reward money. I was going to give them…”

Even the generals and officers, who had survived hellish battles, couldn’t hide their dismay and began to sob.

“Is it really the truth? Maybe the magical communication device is broken?”

“Including the reserves, communication has completely ceased.”

“Ha… hah. Aaaaaffffffaaah!”

An officer who had been suppressing his emotions let out an unintelligible moan, clutching his head. Hardly anyone remained calm. Moritz couldn’t hold back his tears either. It was all he could do just to keep from crying out loud.

“Do we no longer have a homeland, a military god, or heroes?”

Confronted with the clear reality of their nation’s demise, Moritz quietly sank into his chair. How lonely and cold it felt.

“A high-ranking military officer from Mayard, whom we took prisoner and fought alongside on the battlefield, has survived. I have spoken with him through the magical communication device. We will head to Selta and seek asylum in Mayard. There’s no other choice. Those who wish to die for their country or return to their homes, I won’t stop them. But as a former Highserk soldier, I want to keep you all alive. We must endure the unbearable and bear the unendurable. Even if it is a path of great hardship, we are the only ones who can carry on the remnants of Highserk.”

If it were possible for blood to flow from one’s eyes, it would be now. Justus clenched his teeth and widened his bloodshot eyes.

No one criticized Justus. Some wept silently at their desks, others stared blankly at the ceiling, while others remained silent, deep in thought.

On this day, people vanished all at once from Dandurg Castle, and the ancient castle, which had survived the Great Rampage, fell under the control of monsters.