18. Chapter 18
“I-it seems I’ve come to… a wrong place.”
Walm was ordered to appear directly by Battalion Commander Liguria at the former Youth Myard House, which was now requisitioned by the Highserk Army and transformed into the headquarters of the Myard Front.
All bloodstains and the bodies that were evidence of the tragedy Walm had witnessed had been cleared, and two platoons constantly guarded the mansion. In addition, the guards under Commander Berger consolidated the area around the command room, and the company-class army was on the lookout.
The elite soldiers of the Highserk Empire were well-equipped in unison. Walm, wearing a lot of war loots, might look like a stray mongrel.
While Walm was being stared at by the guards with curious eyes, the squad members gathered in a room that was originally a guest room.
“What did, Squad Commander do this time?”
Barito, who was uncomfortable and had his cockscomb hair withered, whispered to Jose.
“Dunno, I don’t think it’s a bad thing because it’s not a prison or a prisoner of war camp.”
“I can hear you. Do you think I did something wrong…? Well, maybe he’ll be rewarded for his achievement.”
Squad Commander Duwei added, “Where have you been all this time?”
Walm thought it must be a reward for Duwei’s squad for killing Winston Ferrius, the commander of Ferrius army the other day, but everyone in the squad was unfamiliar with the strict place, so they suddenly became meek.
All they could do was polish their equipment and clean their clothes.
They left the weapon in the hand of the Commander Berger’s soldiers. To be precise, it was confiscated, so Walm could only smile bitterly at the neat and clean group of ruffians.
“Please take a seat.”
Walm sat down quietly on the chairs lined up at the long desk, as he was urged by one of the guarding soldiers.
“ “ “ Y-Yes sir!” “ “
At the same time, tea and sweets were served to them. It was as delicious as the sweets Walm had eaten in his previous world, and the squad members who took a bite stiffened again.
Walm was about to shed tears over the taste of civilized sweets for the first time in 20 years since he had died. As he was enjoying tea and sweets, he suddenly realized.
Everyone was desperate to behave well, but it was very awkward. Walm couldn’t help but smile at the scene.
Walm didn’t even know the manners of this world. Therefore, he had no choice but to bring sweets and tea to his mouth according to the general manners of the world.
“Damn you Walm, how can you relax like that?”
“Strangely, it looks like he’s used to this. Somehow, it makes me angry.”
“Walm-san, you were a farmer from a rural area, right?”
“He must have learned in advance to humiliate us.”
“…Damn Coward.”
“Squad Commander, Walm-san, I’m feeling a little sick.”
Walm, who displayed a relatively relaxed behavior, was cursed by the squad members, including the three idiots.
“You guys, what the hell are you guys saying …”
Walm’s dependable companions were not in his sight anymore. Only executors denouncing the traitor.
As Walm desperately continued to look for excuses, he noticed that the entrance to the room was slowly opening. The other squad members also responded with a slight delay.
But, no matter how unfamiliar they were with the situation, they were still soldiers. Everyone’s reaction to the characters who appeared was swift.
Walm stood upright as if he had jumped up from his chair. He stood at attention, waiting for the person to say something.
Commander Gerard Berger, who had led 18,000 people in the war agaisnt Myard, the living war god of the Highserk Empire, smiled and calmly entered into the room.
“I thought it was a lively room, well, aren’t you all good soldiers?”
He must have been silently amused by Walm’s struggling from outside the room and the dismayed squad members.
Walm was amazed at how wicked and mischievous the old man was.
Commander Berger sat quietly on the other side of Walm, sandwiching a long desk.
“Sit down. We can’t have a nice conversation if you keep standing.”
The squad members immediately obeyed the command of the commander-in-chief. A soldier made Commander Berger a cup of freshly warmed tea. The sweet scent stimulated Walm’s nasal passages.
Commander Berger, slightly enjoying the smell, silently put down the cup after taking a sip.
“I thought the Jaff Cavalry Battalion would come home with Winston’s neck. I was surprised when I heard the report. You ran across the 6km road in the battle, broke the horse fence, and broke through to the camp. In addition, you killed Winston. I didn’t expect that.”
The line of sight, of course, kept an eye on all members of the squad.
“Jaff was disappointed. I had asked him to give my utmost compliment to Battalion Commander Liguria, but I heard that there was a squad that showed outstanding performance among them. I wanted to give a reward directly, so I got you all here.”
“We’re not worthy of those words”
It was a surprise to Walm that Squad Commander Duwei could speak really polite words. The other squad members were still shaking with nervousness.
“You’re, Squad Commander Duwei. I’ve heard of your vigorous service. You’ve been a supporter of Highserk for many years and also the user of the skill 《Strike》. Soldiers like you are irreplaceable to the Highserk Empire.”
“T-thank you very much”
Replied Squad Commander Duwei, unable to hide his joy. Unlike Walm, he had somehow strong patriotism and love for Highserk Empire. So Walm believed that if he was praised by the war god, he would be drained.
“And you, you’re Walm, right.”
Walm was a little stiff because his name was suddenly called. More so, he was looked at by the veteran’s eyes as if he were being evaluated.
“It’s only been half a year since you joined the army. Although you’ve been trained in the battle with the Liberitoa Trade Federation, you’ve got yourself the skill that Squad Commander Duwei is proud of,《Strike》, then you’ve also learned magic from the magic-user in the squad, Willart, in addition to it, now you can even use《Demon Fire》, What a talent.”
《Demon Fire》was Walm’s new skill gained in the battle against Ferrius. It would scatter storms and flames around, in short, a widespread deadly attack. Walm didn’t know when it was activated, but he knew one thing after learning from Willart that there were users of this skill in the past, former heroes and great adventurers.
“Thank you very much.”
“I saw it once when I was young, but please refrain from getting burned by it and dying. Anyway, I’m really relieved that Walm is a Highserk soldier.”
Commander Berger smiled lightly and took a sip of tea to moisten his throat.
“Lynnette, could you bring it?”
A soldier named Lynnette brought something wrapped in an old cloth.
“It was once worn by an unidentified group of people dressed in otherworldly armor that was rampaging against the three big countries. The material is unknown, there are similarities to Mithril and Adamantite. The one wearing this, seems to have mastered 《Demon Fire》. It’s the perfect item for you as the same user of skill 《Demon Fire》. Don’t hesitate. Try it on. “
It was very similar to the Men-yoroi during the Warring States period in Walm’s previous world. The design looked like a mixture of demons and skeletons, but the color was bright red. Walm wore it on his face. It fitted amazingly well. And it was as light as a feather. [TN: Men-yoroi is a type of face armor used by samurai in Feudal Japan]
“Wonderful. Doesn’t it fit you perfectly? It’s yours now. All your opponents will be surprised by it.”
Although it was the first time Walm wore it, he felt very nostalgic. Mysteriously, he couldn’t help but be convinced that the Men-yoroi must be something from his previous world.
The moment Walm took it off his face and raised his face to thank Commander Berger, the Men-yoroi shook and made a rattling sound.
“Eh!?”
Walm used his dignity and reason as a soldier to suppress the cursing and swearing he was about to throw out of his mouth. He couldn’t swallow the situation and looked alternately at the Men-yoroi and Commander Berger.
“E-excuse me, it’s shaking…”
The surface vibrated violently like the silent mode of a smartphone or a cicada falling into an almost dead state. With a tense expression, Walm asked Commander Berger for an explanation.
“Hahahaha, seems that it likes you. I was in trouble because it’s so picky.”
Walm thought he was a veteran general who had an understanding of the soldiers, but in reality, he was a ridiculous scammer.
“I-it’s cursed!!”
Noor, who was standing next to Walm, cried out.
Jose, who was standing on the other side, also raised his hips and stepped back.
The mask continued to vibrate as if protesting.
“C-Commander Berger!?”
Walm sought help, but the old man in front of him kept laughing.
“Hahaha, I’m sorry. There’s no real harm so far, so rest assured. It’s something you can find out there, a kind of armor that has the will. Sometimes it trembles to show its emotions. I couldn’t wear it, so I’m glad I found someone suitable for the owner. Please take good care of it.”
He then went on talking as if nothing had happened, and handed over the reward to the members of the squad. Because of Walm’s precedent, everyone received it with suspicion.
“Haah, I’m tired.”
Squad Commander Duwei made a rare soft noise.
The squad was released from the guest room and on their way back to camp.
Of course, all squad members were walking at a distance from Walm. Even someone who looked physically strong seemed to be weak in front of curses. The only one who was interested was Willart, the magic user.
“That, what are you going to do with that, Walm?”
“Ah, well, let’s see… I got it from the commander, so I’ve to take good care of it.”
“Eeeeeh, why don’t you throw it away?”
Before the end of Noor’s words, the mask vibrated like never before.
“Noor, you bastard!!”
“Don’t say extra things!!”
Infuriated by the Squad Commander and Jose, Noor repeatedly apologized to the mask.
“Hick, I’m really sorry, I was just kidding. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
Perhaps the desperate prayer had passed the bare minimum, the vibration finally stopped.
Walm thought that he had to change his mind. In a world with magic and skills that ignored the laws of physics, a mere object that had its own will and could vibrate should not shock him. Some people were reborn and reincarnated in another world after all.
Its pickiness was endorsed by Commander Berger, so perhaps it was actually good armor. Albeit a little shivering, Walm told himself that he should be happy to have good armor.
TN : Here, the full image of the character design of Walm
Walm (Character Design 3)
TN: Join my discord channel if you want.
Wait a minute, how old Walm is in that world? 18 or 20+??