Chapter 56

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

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The pillars, splintered and broken halfway, stood like inverted tree roots, blocking people's path. The houses that once supported human life now tangled and collapsed, forming an awkward defensive wall. The inn town, now a ruin, was coated in rubble and dust, yet ironically showed a liveliness and heat that it never had in times of peace. Blood mist drifted through the air with the explosions, and the main street turned a dark red after the clash of iron against iron.

"Ugh, oh, oh, go!?"

A Clayst soldier, having just crossed the rubble, shouted to encourage himself, but was silenced by an incoming arrow. Another of his comrades was impaled under the chin and became an ugly obstacle, joining the defensive wall.

"Idiot, don't swing so wildly."

"Thrust back with a small movement!"

The side streets and alleys, which retained more of their original form compared to the main road, were no exception. After circling to strike each other's sides, they ended up in narrow paths where the attacks were primarily thrusts. The moment they felt relieved that they had cleared the way, they were met with an attack spell from a Haiselk soldier, which caused a chain reaction of house collapses in the confined space.

"Ugh, gee!"

"Fall back, fall back, it's going to collapse!"

"Ugh, ah, ah!?"

In the midst of such combat, another Haiselk soldier fell before Fliug's eyes. The cross-section of the soldier, cut through his armor, was remarkably smooth, as if it knew nothing of the world's logic.

The one who slashed the soldier was a Rehazen knight named Laiard. A single strike with his magic-infused "Strong Attack" could cut through iron. The knight's feet were piled with bodies that could not be carried by one hand. Although the Clayst Kingdom's army was divided in the center of the inn town, the leading group, with the knight at the forefront, showed resilience.

"Don't falter, cross the rubble, and keep pushing!"

Despite the wounds etched on his body, the magic barrier and spirit he carried showed no signs of weakening. Laiard, entrusted with leading the vanguard, continued to prove himself a brave commander. Soldiers naturally gathered around a brave commander. With a gathered number, it was possible to form a breakthrough. They needed to crush the enemy before the reinforcements arrived. The enemy, however, thought the same as Fliug. It was a head-hunting strategy.

"Die, you bastard!"

Fliug deflected the spear thrust with his sword, redirecting it to the ground. It was a thrust with a full body movement, but not everything required full effort. Knowing when to hold back was crucial. With a running start, the Clayst soldier leaned forward, exposing his neck.

Fliug casually raised his sword. The dull blade tore through the throat with minimal resistance, leaving a trail of blood in the air. Though he was aware of his lack of restraint, Fliug did not wait to see the end of the fallen soldier; his gaze was already on the next target. The Clayst soldier, having learned from his comrade's death, stopped and waited. Fliug, as if drawn in, swung his sword without hesitation. The soldier, anticipating the strike, managed to block it with an upper guard.

"Ugh, ah!?"

Being faithful to the basics was not bad, but when the sword that blocked it was soaked in warm blood, the situation changed. The warm blood rained down on his face, forcing him to blink. Fliug, lowering his upper body, stepped forward. He did not have the agility of a wind mage, but to the soldier, it would seem as if he had disappeared from his field of vision for a moment.

The soldier's eyes widened in shock, but it was too late. The blade cut into the back of his knee, slicing through the ligaments and joints. The soldier's posture wobbled as if he were drowning in alcohol.

"Ugh, ah, ah!"

Fliug, still in the momentum of his step, charged forward. The soldier's desperate strike grazed his back, but through the armor, it felt like a gentle tap.

"Damn, ugh!"

Fliug aimed to finish off the soldier who was struggling to get up, but it was unnecessary. An axe, extending from the side, crushed the soldier's head. There was no need to speak of life or death. The sticky liquid dripped from the axe, and a subordinate officer finished the job with the ease of splitting firewood. Without words, a glance was enough to convey gratitude. That was how the battlefield worked.

Fliug, who was thinning out the enemy soldiers, and the Clayst knight, who was competing with him, had a significant difference in processing ability due to the division of the ranks. The rapid expansion of the military organization had led to a severe shortage of subordinate officers. The few attendants he had brought were insufficient to maintain control in the chaos.

"Damn, damn!"

"Kill them off, don't engage in a proper fight."

The enemy was a Rehazen knight who wielded "Strong Attack." Balancing the scales of victory and loss, Fliug engaged in swordplay. The Haiselk soldiers, following their squad leader, fought like a pack of carnivorous fish, tearing their prey apart bit by bit.

"At least, you!"

The frustration of being whittled down led to intense focus. Laiard and his attendants did not miss Fliug's slight step and made their final move. They forced open the spear formation with their swords, sliding the blades off their armor and blood, and broke through the encirclement.

"Deflect it!"

"It's no good, he's getting through!"

It was like jumping into a thorn bush, but the momentum did not stop. Fliug calmly thrust his sword forward. The death soldiers were terrifying. The Haiselk soldiers, who often dealt with life and death, understood this well.

"I'm taking your head, ugh!"

A magic-infused blade, shimmering like a mirage, approached Fliug. It was a magnificent strike, fueled by the will to live. As the sword tips met, an axe head intervened. The axe, raised to the highest point, cut through Laiard's collarbone and reached his heart, sending him to the underworld without a word.

"Laiard-sama!"

"Damn!"

The attendants followed their master, literally. The fatal blow to the lifeless prey was delivered by the oldest subordinate officer, Saura. In a remarkably cautious manner, Saura had stayed a step behind Fliug, hiding himself and his axe behind the squad leader's back until Fliug was in danger. If Fliug had been in the same position, he would have targeted the commander. The reckless step forward was like an invitation to be drawn out.

Fliug, stopping the conversation, continued to cut down those who crossed the rubble, following the fallen knight's orders. The ground could not contain the overflowing blood, and pools of water mixed with organs formed. The enemy, as if regaining their senses, began to retreat.

"Finally, they've come to their senses."

There was no elation from victory, only a fatigue that clung to his body. Wiping his forehead with his sleeve, sweat and blood mixed with the floating dust, creating a mud-like war makeup. No one raised a victory cry. The Myaard soldiers either stood in a daze or sat down, out of breath. Some of the squad members were busy checking if the bodies at their feet were truly dead, using thrusts as a form of greeting.

"Collect the spears and shields from the dead Myaard soldiers."

The piled bodies provided ample equipment for the naked Myaard soldiers. Fliug, looking around, saw that the enemy had lost five hundred soldiers, while his own forces had lost two hundred. It was the result of mutual slaughter. The number of wounded was disproportionately low. Those who could not move were subjected to violence, thoroughly.

The fatigue did not leave his body, but there was no time to rest. The main force of the Clayst Kingdom's army would soon fill the street, and the fierce attack would continue until the inn town was breached.

"Those who are free, stack the bodies and rubble to form a defensive wall."

It was a bit too macabre to call it a defensive wall. It felt more like a mass grave. Fliug pointed to it.

"Do not distinguish the bodies. If I die, stack me the same way."

Whether it was the air or the lack of mental capacity, the Myaard soldiers silently continued their work. The only exception was Saura.

"Yes, when the time comes, I will certainly stack you without exception."

"Hmph, infuriating."

Fliug and Saura had fought together on the battlefield for a long time, including at Dandueg Castle, but Saura was still a reliable yet irritating subordinate. Shortly after, Fliug caught an unusual sound. The clanking of metal, the sound of armor, indicated that over a thousand people were running in unison, creating a tremor like an earthquake. The rubble and plaster on the defensive wall crumbled and shook, as if laughing.

"They're already here."

"Haha, there are twice as many this time."

A soldier, peering from a beam or a piece of armor, let out a dry laugh. Fliug tried to calmly estimate the total number of the enemy, but the bodies lying on the defensive wall obstructed his view. The fresh corpses, not yet undead, had hollow eyes that seemed to resent the living. Fliug, having stopped counting, spoke to the dead.

"Don't worry, many more will join you. Including me."

Fliug's monologue was drowned out by the cries of battle.

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The cover of "Turbid Eyes: Haiselk War Chronicles" Volume 3 is now available for pre-order, with a release date of June 2nd.

The illustrations are by Mr. Sō-taro, and the cover features Worm, Karim, and Kuwen. The inside illustrations and black-and-white art are also excellent, and Tortonen is simply amazed by the quality. It's really impressive! I highly recommend checking it out.

There is also new original content that further enriches the web version of the story.

The manga adaptation by Mr. Saito Hachinomi, Volume 2, is available today. The lively dialogue, heavy battle scenes, and detailed artwork have even Tortonen, the author, enjoying it as a reader. I highly recommend purchasing it!