Chapter 76: Cruel reality

This is what war is. This is what risking your life is.

You get injured, your comrades get injured and you have to have the resolve to lose everything.

I don’t want to hear that kind of scolding that adults give when putting on airs.

But I didn’t think I would finally understand the meaning of those words now.

After all, your heart wouldn’t last if you didn’t convince yourself that you have that resolve.

“That, asshole…………” (Velt)

We fell silent on top of Dora’s back.

It’s because we couldn’t handle the sight you see often in wars.

Especially this time.

“Guh, u, au, ah.” (?)

On the reflection, there’s a new soldier that’s already at death’s door.

His body is being crushed by a huge cyclops, all his bones are breaking, and the blood that lost its place to go is spouting out.

He’s one of my old friends!

“It hurts, save, me, Shipp…………” (?)

His name is Gau!

He’s a commoner whose father works as a castle guard, but because he had the ninth highest grades in the magic school, he went to the empire with the others.

Right now, in a state without any power in his body like a broken doll, he’s being crushed by a monster.

“Ga, Gau………… Gau!”

“You, you asshole! You one-eyed asshole! Let go of Gau! I’ll kill you!”

His comrades couldn’t hide their anger after seeing his tragic figure.

“Guhe. Don’t wanna.” (Cyclops)

Then, in the next moment, the cyclops grasping Gau put even more power into his arms, crushing Gau completely.

“You, you asshooooooooooooooooooole!”

“Gau, Gau! Gauuuuuu!”

“Nooooooooooooooo!”

I felt nauseous and a welling of anger inside me at the same time.

I want to kill that stupid looking, low intelligence Cyclops that might not even know what he just did, and is looking around everywhere.

That feeling was stronger for those guys that saw it happen live.

“Damn it, damn it, damn it! I’ll kill youuuuuu!” (Shipp)

Gau’s best friend and my old friend, Shipp.

He, who advanced to the empire with the tenth highest grades, had been Gau’s best friend since they were kids.

Holding two short swords with an underhanded grip, he jumped out while shedding tears.

“Wait, Shipp! Don’t thoughtlessly jump………… damn it, it’s impossible! I’ll go cover him! Sannu, you go call for Barts as fast as you can!” (Sea)

“But, but………… Gau was, Gau was-” (Sannu)

“Quick, go! Shipp and I will handle this place!” (Sea)

“O, oka-…………! Sea! Watch out, above you!” (Sannu)

“Eh?” (Sea)

The one that jumped out to cover Shipp who jumped out, is Sea, the grandchild of the Elfarshia Kingdom’s advisor in an honourable, ancient lineage, who advanced to the empire with the fourth highest grades.

And the one who couldn’t stand up from the sight of Gau being killed and is leaning against a building wall while crying is a high-class daughter of the Elfarshia Kingdom’s top company, Sannu.

These guys have been my acquaintances since we were kids too.

However, the moment Sannu shouted that, a huge shadow covered the area Sea was in, and then…………

“Buhyaaaaaaaaaaa!” (Cyclops)

“!” (Sea)

I heard the sound of him being crushed.

A huge cyclops jumped and crushed Sea underfoot.

“Sea………… noooooo! Ah, ahhhh!” (Sannu)

One of her comrades that had been with her only a few seconds ago, was crushed in front of her eyes and became something bloody that no longer has the shape of a human.

From the tragic event, Sannu’s mind surpassed its limit, and she fainted.

“Gehe, gehehehehehehehehehehehe, me strong.” (Cyclops)

“Strong strong, stroooong.” (Cyclops)

I wonder what’s happening in the Elfarshia Kingdom right now.

Being shown all over the world means that this sight is obviously playing in the Elfarshia Kingdom too.

Gau and Sea, who just died tragically, had important family and many friends.

Are they angry? Sad? Hopeless? Or are they in a daze?

I don’t know.

However, what welled up inside of me, was anger.

“What the hell have you assholes done.” (?)

I heard the words I would’ve said.

The person that said that, was Barts, who appeared under the tragic corpse of the general.

“Hii-, ge, general Sokushi is!”

“No, no way, that, that general that was called the battle-tried, strong general!”

Barts brought a small force of around ten soldiers with him.

All of them are young, new soldiers, that shrivelled from the innumerable corpses scattered about the headquarters.

However, only Barts was different.

Redrock, the one that killed general Sokushi, smiled after seeing the sharp, bloodthirst-filled glint in Barts’ eyes.

“Hou, you’re young. You were one step late, child soldier.” (Redrock)

“You were the one that………… asshole! I’ll kill you!” (Barts)

Barts jumps out alone. However, that wasn’t brave, but just reckless.

“Sto, stop it, commander Barts! Those guys are in a different league!”

However, shaking off his subordinates and comrades’ restraint, Barts jumped out without being able to control himself.

“Zuryaaaa, sei, rah, ta!” (Barts) (TL Note: Noises he’s making while attacking.)

“Hmm, inexperienced. However………… hou.” (Redrock)

Barts swings his sharp sword down. Redrock receives it with his huge, metal rod.

After that, Barts unleashed consecutive slashes over and over again, but Redrock received every single one.

However, just from that exchange of crossing weapons, Redrock raised a slightly impressed voice.

“Hohou, you hit quite well, youngster. And this ability, I can see your passion in it.” (Redrock)

“Shut up!” (Barts)

Redrock takes half steps to avoid Barts’ sword while brandishing his metal rod at Barts right after an attack.

However, Barts forcefully twisted his collapsing posture, avoiding Redrock’s strike.

“Ooh, you avoided that one too, huh. Haha, you’re pretty good, youngster.” (Redrock)

“Kuh, you asshole!” (Barts)

“Fumu.” (Redrock)

After a moment of offence and defence, Redrock honestly praised Barts, as if evaluating him.

“You have talent, youngster. You at least『have』much more than that old general who relied on his past glory.” (Redrock)

“What’s that!? Are you trying to show your composure!” (Barts)

“No, I’m saying that I’m enjoying myself as a warrior. It seems there really are young warriors that have talent like Ragaia-sama, even among humans.” (Redrock)

He’s probably not lying and is just honestly praising Bart’s ability.

However, the fact that he’s saying that kind of thing has another meaning.

It means that he’s looking forward to Barts’ future prospects, but he’s not a threat as of now.

And then,

“Fufu, that’s why it’s unfortunate. Sorry, but I have to pluck the people that will be a threat to Ragaia-sama in the future.” (Redrock)

“!” (Barts)

The look on his only eye changed.

He’s holding the metal rod in his hand strong enough to make a creaking sound.

At that moment, the strike that Redrock hadn’t even released yet, passed through my head like foresight.

“Cra, crap! Guh, magic sword! Flame Saber!” (Barts)

A powerful sword covered in flames. However,

“Demolition Rod!” (Redrock)

He simply struck his metal rod downwards. However, that simple strike broke Barts’ flame clad sword into small pieces.

Getting dragged into that power, Barts was sent flying far to the back, piercing through multiple building walls.

“Gah, hah, aga…………” (Barts)

Barts hasn’t died. However, with just one strike, his whole body was hit with unbelievable power and it was clear that he wasn’t able to get up anymore. An immense amount of blood is flowing from his head and limbs, and his eyes looked like they could close anytime soon.

“No, no way, co, commander…………”

“Ba, Barts was, that Barts was”

The new soldiers stood stock still in front of this hopeless sight that they don’t want to believe.

Among them, some weren’t able to stand up anymore, and some involuntarily urinated while standing.

Their fighting spirit had already been broken into little pieces.

“Kukuku, fuhahahahahaha! Now, what’s wrong, you damn humans! To think you would discharge waste from this amount of despair! If your heart breaks at something of this level, you cannot possibly reach Ragaia-sama’s level, who passed through a hellish world! Of course, you cannot rival me either!” (Redrock)

This situation instantaneously spread out through the capital.

The soldiers fighting there right now, are looking at the sky, trembling from seeing Bart’s defeat.

“In the end, you damn monkeys playing soldiers won’t understand! The discrimination, scorn, humiliation and despair that Ragaia-sama tasted until now, because he had the blood of a human slave! However, that person surpassed everything, and gained our tribe’s trust with his own power! We are the elite force that was chosen by that person! Ten Heroes of Light? Worthless! That kind of faint light will be dyed in darkness by our hands!” (Redrock)

To make sure everyone knows the general died in action and Barts was defeated, Redrock shouts to the empire and to the world.

That shout even reached Forna, who’s fighting at the sky garden.

“Your army is already collapsing. What will you do, princess Forna?” (Ragaia)

“……………………” (Forna)

“You came to defeat the general? Fuh, as long as you and Galva, the only ones that could lead the soldiers, remain here, your defeat is certain.” (Ragaia)

Forna, who’s fighting in the hanging garden, obviously heard the disastrous scene in the capital.

However, Forna didn’t show anger or sorrow. Instead, blood oozed out of her lips she’s biting on, and her palms she’s grasping tightly.

“You are right. However, what are you trying to say about that!” (Forna)

“Hou.” (Ragaia)

“Feeling sadness is something that the citizens who have no power can do. However, we are the only ones that can defeat you right now. Then, what we have to do is obvious!” (Forna)

Even so, Forna fought.

Unlike the new soldiers, she must have repeated the same thing since much before.

Not being able to cry when she wants to, and even if she did gain victory, the people she lost won’t come back.

Even so, for the sake of the great cause or whatever that she holds in her chest, she bravely fought.

“In that case, if I deal with you, then that will be the real end of the capital.” (Ragaia)

“To not let their deaths be in vain, I will defeat you here!” (Forna)

“Just try it! Here I come, Dark Brid!” (Ragaia) (Note: Author probably misspelled something)

“Barrier deployment! Lightning levee!” (Forna)

The match is taking alternately favourable and unfavourable turns and neither of them is taking a step back. That damn brat really is strong.

“Ura, how do you see it?” (Velt)

“All I can say is that it’s likely to grow worse. Ragaia has mastered all the dark abyss magic at that age.” (Ura)

He has enough battle ability to impress a demon king’s daughter and is showing his ability that isn’t outdone by the three great titles of the world.

He’s roughly even with Forna. You can definitely say that the outcome of this match between generals controls the fate of this war.

However, I shouldn’t forget the one heretic in this war.

“Like, isn’t it fine already? Can’t you give up already?” (Mackey Mouse)

That person is Mackey Mouse, who had been spectating this whole time from an elevated place.

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