Chapter 27

The air in the room was heavy, like stagnant crude oil, filling the enclosed space. The insufficient ventilation only accentuated the musty smell. The room was already cramped, and with the knight commander, who was known for his harsh treatment of people, as his secret meeting partner, Makoto had no intention of hiding his discomfort.

“So, you called me all the way from the front line just to plot something evil again?”

This wasn't the first time he had been summoned like this. Most of the time, it was for some unsavory scheme.

“Let me be blunt. We need to kill Ayane.”

“...Well, I don’t want to stay in this place any longer, but couldn’t you have given me a bit more of a heads-up?”

Makoto exhaled the air he didn’t want to breathe and revealed his feelings. The commander of the Rehazen Knights, a military organization, seemed to have forgotten about empathy, or perhaps he was born without it.

“Yuto would be a different story, but this should be enough for you.”

“I don’t want to be lumped in with you.”

What was being asked for was empathy. This was no joke. The man in front of him wasn’t a female student in a classroom seeking empathy for a casual conversation. He was a twisted creation, meticulously forged in the crucible of battle. The idea of such a robust and strong-willed girl existing was absurd, Makoto thought to himself.

“You and Ayane are the only ones from the same hometown, and you’re childhood friends. The fact that you can say you’ll kill her without a hint of hesitation means you’re already one of us.”

Makoto fell silent, acknowledging the truth in the statement. He was aware of the transformation in his values. While he might have resisted it right after being summoned to this world, he had long since adapted to it, having traversed many battlefields.

“Look at this.”

Makoto’s gaze fell on the stack of papers thrown on the table. The high-quality paper bore the royal seal, which had already been broken.

“I’ve sent both a messenger and a letter. Ayane insists on staying in Selta to heal the wounded. If this were Creist, it would be a heartwarming story. But with Myard, who has allied with Haiselk, it’s a different matter.”

Despite the accusatory tone, the knight commander’s expression didn’t change.

“What does this have to do with me?”

Indeed, it was a serious situation for the Kingdom of Creist. But what benefit did Makoto have in it? He was already working beyond what he was being paid for. The knight commander, sensing Makoto’s lack of interest, whispered a provocation.

“Are you going to let your so-called best friend handle it again?”

It was a straightforward provocation. Makoto channeled his refined magic power and released it in an instant. He had expected Gran to roll around in pain, but the table was kicked up with the toe of his boot, blocking the heat and cold. Indeed, it was a practical table. The poor table, which had been used as a shield, was being consumed by fire and ice.

“Watch your words. I haven’t been sleeping for the past two years.”

The diligent knight commander was not only involved in the knight order but also in the formation of the new military units. His self-training might not have been as thorough as before, but Makoto had been fighting in various places for two years. In terms of personal combat, their skills were not that far apart.

“I see. Sit down.”

Gran, who didn’t smile at the girl’s cute mischief, pointed to the chair that had been kicked away. Makoto sat back down, leaving the remains of the table between them.

“The current Ayane has become a pillar of Myard. Even though she had the opportunity to return to Creist, she chose to stay. A wobbly pillar must be removed. Makoto, Ayane is in your way too. Do you want to be second again?”

“No way.”

Baring his fangs, Makoto growled.

“Among the Three Heroes, only Makoto is truly a hero in both mind and body. Yuto is weak, and Ayane is naive. Don’t look at me like that. It’s the truth. If Ayane, your only fellow townsman, dies, you’ll have only one place to turn. Or are you going to give the man you like to a capricious woman who might return to the country?”

The argument was infuriating but not entirely off the mark. Makoto had always been second to Yuto. He savored the bitterness, but suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu. It was as if a bone was stuck in his throat. He shook his leg, searching his memory, and the answer came to him. Ah, that’s right. The way the man in front of him spoke was fundamentally the same as the meddlesome girls in the classroom.

“You look so serious, but you’re quite worldly... They say love and war don’t choose their means, but is that really true?”

For the first time during the secret meeting, Makoto smiled. The stern man in front of him seemed to relax a bit. In the end, Makoto was swayed by the sweet talk. He thought it would be the most beneficial for him.

“So, of all people, he’s replacing Yuto? Ayane has poor taste.”

From a vantage point overlooking the mining town, Makoto observed the progress of the battle. He understood the initial surprise attack, but what followed was not good. The Felius soldiers were no match for the notorious ghost fire user. Those who tried to avoid direct combat were blocked by the guards in the church and couldn’t break in. Despite their determination, the difference in strength was clear. The moment the battle turned into a melee, the outcome was decided.

“He’s the type who would burn a forward base like the Sarajevo fortress. Ah, they’re being cut down... Huh?”

Another soldier was split in half vertically by a halberd, helmet and all. It seemed like a wasteful way to kill, but it was a kind of performance. Who would want to be chopped up like fish or vegetables? As expected, the soldiers’ ranks began to waver. Makoto, who was observing from a distance, winced at the noise. It wasn’t from the Creist soldiers accompanying him. According to Gran, they were local forces.

“Hey, if you make noise, you’ll be found.”

“Are you kidding?! You’re abandoning us?”

“We’re abandoning you? The agreement was to eliminate the healing mage. You were the ones who received the preparation and information and launched the surprise attack. I don’t want to hear complaints from those who can’t even break into the building.”

“You little brat!!”

The man, his face as red as a boiled lobster, continued to protest.

“Ah, Con, Con, Di? ...Ah, Condirata, it’s better to calm down—”

Makoto tried to soothe Condirata, who was foaming at the mouth, but it was too late. When a sword pierces the abdomen, most people die. This man was no exception.

“I told you. I ended up killing them.”

Makoto looked at the perpetrator with a mix of exasperation and criticism, but there was no sign of remorse.

“What value does a lord have when he has lost his territory and his private army? Creist provided weapons, funds, and opportunities. The result of your efforts was a failure to fulfill the contract.”

Makoto and the Kingdom of Creist had kept their end of the bargain. They had provided maximum assistance to help them reclaim their lost land. The failure was on their part.

“Wow, you sound just like Commander Gran.”

Instead of the busy commander, a member of the knight order accompanied Makoto. The member, who had been thoroughly trained by Gran, spoke in a tone that was almost a mini-Gran. While the proliferation of such individuals was a serious issue, this one was at least somewhat easier to deal with.

“I would be honored to be compared to the great knight commander.”

“Yeah, sure.”

Makoto gave a half-hearted response and refocused on the battle. At the edge of his vision, the former lord of the Refun region was being thrown into a mine shaft.

“It’s no good. They’re about to be wiped out.”

Without the “Ghost Fire,” they were trying to deal with dozens of people. Only a handful remained, and it wasn’t worth watching anymore. Makoto asked the knight in charge of the operation for a decision.

“It’s time. Get ready.”

“Alright, I’ll do it. In the end, it’s just another mud game.”

Makoto sank his arms into the ground, channeled his magic power, and began to manipulate the earth and water. The preliminary practice, which also served as bait, had been sufficient with the recent heavy rain.

‘What do you wish for with your clouded eyes? Haiselk War Chronicles II’

Pre-orders are now open!!

The release date is around October 3rd, and the first volume of the manga adaptation of ‘What do you wish for with your clouded eyes? Haiselk War Chronicles’ by Saito Hachigiri will be released on October 17th.

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The latest chapter of the manga can be read in Shonen Magazine Edge. You can also read previous chapters on Nico Nico Seiga and Magazine Pocket. Please check them out!