Chapter 60

The escort team managed to push back part of the encirclement, but the breakthrough failed and came to a standstill. In the sparse forest spreading to the southeast of the treatment center, the bodies of guards and wounded soldiers were discarded like signposts. Beside them lay the bodies of the Clayst soldiers who had died alongside them. Such a desperate flight from death was blocked by the towering cliffs and streams. The escort team, reduced to the fingers of both hands after the fierce battle, struggled in their final moments.

"They're closing in, huh."

Despite being worn down, over thirty Clayst soldiers were closing in, shrinking the encirclement. Justus knocked down the arrows flying at him with his sword and deflected the ones he couldn't dodge with his armor. A dull pain ran through his chest plate, but the arrows didn't penetrate and slid off.

"Die already, damn it!"

The archer, who had cursed, reached for his quiver, but there were no arrows left. The enemy soldier spat and threw away his bow and quiver, drawing his sword. They could no longer be shot down by arrows. The enemy magic soldiers were either dead or out of mana. The only reason they weren't killed instantly was the dedication of the soldiers and, ironically, the stream that blocked the escort team's path. The stream, which was used for log transport during high water, enhanced water magic.

Mia, though not a regular magic soldier, was a powerful water attribute user. If Justus and his team served as the front line and used her as a fixed fire point, it would bring devastating results. Thus, the escort team pursued the fallen soldiers with water bullets and finished off the wounded with ice spears.

"Damn it!!"

"Is Ayane hiding among the common soldiers?"

Her greatest achievement was when she removed her hood and discarded her disguise. The foolish face of the Rheasen knight who had believed the disguised Mia to be a legendary healing mage was a rare sight. Of course, no matter how much he laughed, it was only a small victory, and the dire situation continued.

"Is this it, then?"

Without hiding his accumulated fatigue, his subordinate Douglas sighed.

"You're being pessimistic. At least, we won't be shot."

They had lost their projectile weapons and the means to reduce the escort team without casualties. However, the Clayst soldiers were neither lazy nor pacifists to indulge in a prolonged standoff. The circle of people slowly tightened, and Mia threatened them with water magic, but the water splashed behind her. It wasn't the loud splash of a water bullet. The fragile water droplets were the sound of a water sphere collapsing into the surface of the water mid-formation.

"Mr. Justus!"

Justus understood the situation from the high-pitched voice of the person he was protecting. It was finally out of fuel. This was also the end. In contrast to the escort team, who had reaffirmed their resolve, the Rheasen knight ordered his men to attack as if to vent his frustration.

"All of you, charge!!"

Like unleashed hunting dogs, the Clayst soldiers surged forward. In any case, they had to reduce their numbers. If they just stood their ground, it would only hasten their death. The first to attack was the archer who had discarded his bow and became lighter. Justus kicked the water with his feet, which were stuck like roots.

"What—!?"

The archer, who had assumed his opponent was immobile, was caught off guard. In response to the incomplete slash, Justus struck with his sword, putting all his strength into it. The short sword of the archer, who had discarded his bow, had missed. There was no reason he couldn't overpower him. The sword pressure forced the archer's arm to rise. Justus, cutting his wrist, delivered a slash to the gap between the elbows. The shallow water turned red, and the archer, whose throat was torn, staggered. The spearman who followed immediately after shouted.

"Huff, haa—"

Don't stop breathing or moving. Justus pushed back the archer, who was halfway to the underworld. The spear pierced the archer's body as he cut in. The Clayst soldier, who had unexpectedly finished off his comrade, quickly pulled out the spear. However, the tip that had entered from the side had torn the skin and muscles and was stopped by the ribs. Pulling out a spear stuck in the bone was a difficult task.

Against the enemy soldier who was fixated on the spear, Justus's goal was simple. He jumped out of the shadow of the archer and swung his sword along the handle. The spearman, who was startled, tried to thrust with the spear he had just pulled out, but it was too close for a thrust. The sword blade, which had broken through the helmet and side of the head, pierced the brain. Without witnessing the end, Justus moved on to the next opponent.

One of the new attackers wielded a hammer spear, and the other a sword and shield. The shield user's defensive stance with a sword was very troublesome. If he focused too much on the shield user, he would receive a hammer spear from the side. They could be cut down with time, but such luxury was not allowed. Justus took their bait head-on. He circled around the shield user's left side with a thrust and jumped into range. The thrust was blocked by the shield, and the shield user, who had half-turned with his left foot as the pivot, thrust back with his sword. Justus, who had blocked the thrust with the tsuba, continued to advance.

"Let's sandwich him!"

The hammer spear user, responding to his comrade's call, tried to adjust his range, but it was a bit too late. Justus stepped sharply with his right foot and tripped the enemy. The sensation in his shoe was sufficient.

"Ugh!?"

The shield user, who left his pivot foot forward, couldn't brace himself with the leg that was supporting most of his weight. He tried to push Justus back with the shield but couldn't get a good footing. The short sword was also in the middle of a tsuba push. In response to the frustrated enemy soldier, Justus's body moved as it had been drilled in the past.

The elite Ferius guards were trained in combat techniques for when they lost their weapons. Even in close quarters where they couldn't swing their fists, they had enough freedom. Justus pulled back his left shoulder slightly, creating a small space, and swung his arm. The elbow, which had gained momentum, shattered the shield user's forehead.

"Ugh, gahh!?"

It wasn't just an elbow strike. The edge of the gauntlet had enough power to destroy a person. The shield user, who had lost his vision and balance, started playing in the water like an innocent child. So far, so good. But the price was coming. Justus gritted his teeth and watched the trajectory of the hammer head.

"Ugh, gahh"

It was a standard blow to the head. Justus aligned his helmet with the vertically swung mace. A dull pain resonated through the helmet. It felt as if his cheek had been burned from his right ear, and the impact finally stopped at his shoulder. Their gazes met through the mace.

In an instant, the former guard swung his sword. The light resistance made him realize it was a failure. Had the blow to the head slowed him down? He had intended to cut the throat with the wrist, but only managed to cut halfway. The enemy soldier, covering the wound with an incomplete magic barrier, tried to draw his sword with his other hand. Justus struck again.

"Damn—"

The sword, which he had swung from above, this time didn't allow any resistance and decapitated the head. The head bounced on the water's surface like a stone. The memory after that was vague. He couldn't remember how he fought or how many he had cut down. Justus returned to reality while twisting the Clayst soldier's intestines with his sword. His left elbow was missing, the sensation in the right half of his face was gone, and his hearing was unclear. His body was hot, yet he felt cold.

"What, what am I doing?"

Justus, who was asking himself, remembered that he was a guard. Guards must protect the state with their lives. Where were the person he was protecting and the team? He had to protect them—this time. His muddled consciousness regained color.

The once noisy stream was now dominated by the sound of rough breathing and the flowing river. The remaining enemies were down to ten. Just a little more. How many allies were left? Looking around, Justus found a familiar subordinate.

"What are you sitting there for? There are still enemies left."

"Still alive, huh? The Ferius guards are pretty crazy."

"You, a Haiselk, saying that... Hey, Douglas!"

In the banter, Justus realized something. The soldier, who was sitting cross-legged and hanging his head, had a broken spear protruding from his abdomen. The position of the puncture was the liver, a fatal wound. He hadn't even noticed his subordinate's fatal injury. The former guard, who had fallen silent, was comforted by Douglas, who whispered.

"Ha, it's over. I'll go first, sir."

"Wait a bit, okay."

This left Justus as the only remaining member of the escort team. He wasn't the only one who had witnessed the death of his comrades.

"Are they dead? What a futile resistance."

"How many did they take out?"

The tone of the Rheasen knights suggested that everything was over. The guards and the person they were protecting were still alive. Nothing was over yet. The Rheasen knights, who had taken a stance, didn't move from a distance. Blood continued to flow from Justus's feet through the weakened magic barrier.

"Mia, what a foolish thing to do."

As if nothing had happened, the Rheasen knight resumed the conversation. Ah, Justus realized. They were just passing time until he ran out of strength. The healing mage understood this and reluctantly continued the conversation.

"I don't want to be called foolish by the ones who are trying to eliminate a single girl."

"If it were just a woman. Her healing magic is a threat that rivals a thousand soldiers. You should understand that as a healing mage."

"You picked me up as an orphan, provided me with food, clothing, and education, and I betrayed the knight order?"

"If there wasn't another war, I wouldn't have betrayed."

"It's a strategic decision."

"The way you say it. It's like little Gran, isn't it?"

Despite Mia's sarcasm, the Rheasen knight continued his one-sided conversation without changing his expression. Justus could only listen in silence. Even a single word of breath was a drain on his life.

"Is your last word just flattery?"

"Enough. Talking is futile."

"I've sent pursuers after the fleeing soldiers. Ayane will die soon. It was a waste of time."

Justus understood that he was being seen through. Still, he had no choice but to play along with their game.

"What about Mia? Should we just take her head?"

"It would be bad for Yuto's education. I don't want him to see a dead body. Kill her here and crush her face."

The ground distorted. Justus, who had been bracing himself, was already on his knees.

"Enough, I don't have to protect anymore."

Mia, who was behind him, whispered gently. It was no use. If he couldn't protect, just like his homeland Ferius, what was the point? Against his will, Justus's body wouldn't move.

"It's time."

"Even if you call me foolish, it's the least I can do for a former comrade. I'll kill you painlessly."

The Grim Reaper, who had drunk blood, appeared in the gap of the sparse forest.

"This time, I will—"

"Still moving!?"

The sudden jump of the former guard made the Rheasen knight stop in surprise. Justus ignored them, hugged Mia, and jumped into the stream. The shallow water reflected the blue sky. The clear blue was gradually stained by a dark blue. After ten breaths, Justus climbed out of the water. The sparse forest was burning, and the living and the dead in the shallow water were lit by a blue bonfire. He asked the Grim Reaper.

"Where is Lady Ayane?"

"Ayane has joined the reinforcements from the pass."

"Is that so, this time."

Justus, gasping for breath, whispered. The imperial knight extended his hand and called out.

"Wait, I'll transfer you—"

It was obvious that he wouldn't last. Worm tried to encourage the former guard as kindly and cruelly as possible.

"Don't worry about me. It's nothing serious. Burn the enemy. Save Myaard."

With his last strength, Justus pushed away Worm's hand. Human hands have limits. There's no room to grab anything extra.

"I'm sorry."

He watched the back of the imperial knight, who was moving away. What a good man. If Worm had been born in Ferius instead of the empire, the kingdom might not have fallen. If the commander Latu, who was discovered in Yaluk, had been there, Ferius would have enjoyed a century of glory.

Justus, imagining the scene of the guards and the imperial knights fighting side by side on the battlefield, laughed at himself. It was an impossible future. To feel a sense of kinship with the Haiselk, whom he had despised, was a sign of the end. Mia was shouting something repeatedly above him. In the cold, he felt a softness and warmth. He would be envied by Douglas and the others who had crossed over to the underworld. What could he say to apologize? His thoughts faded as he tried to come up with an excuse. Thus, the life of the former Ferius guard burned out and turned to ash.

'Turbid Eyes: Haiselk War Chronicles' Volume 3 is now available!

Please purchase it at your local bookstore or online.

We also welcome the greedy set purchase, which includes the manga volume 2.

Tortnenn will do a little dance with gratitude.