Nigoru Hitomi de Nani wo Negau ch 56

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56. Chapter 56 – Living Natural Disaster

Even with many conflicts in the back of his mind, Walm couldn’t help but marvel at his body that could fall asleep, even if only for about 2 hours.

As Walm stroked his chin, he could feel the stubble on the unkempt chin. When he went to the cheeks, he could feel that he had lost some fat.

After checking his face, Walm then descended from the castle tower and walked through the corner where the refugees were standing close together.

A man groaning in pain, an old man looking up at the sky as if in a daze, and a mother holding a child in her arms passed by at the edge of the field of vision.

Most of those would remain behind at Dandurg Castle in the morning.

At the sight of them, the result, though it hadn’t happened, burned itself into Walm’s memory more clearly than fire could.

Walm thought that he should think about such a matter when it was all over. But he changed his mind; after all, a shiver ran down his spine when he thought of what would happen to not only them, but also him if it all went wrong.

Next, Walm passed some soldiers. They looked busy. He thought they were soldiers giving information about the operation, but that didn’t seem to be true.

At such a moment, Walm felt a sense of discomfort. 

The noise disappeared from the ramparts where the battle continued, even if Walm was asleep or awake. And now, his heart was beating fast. It was as if a bell was ringing in his head, telling him to run.

“Oi, look!!”

The soldier pointed to something and shouted.

Walm, running up the ramparts and reaching the roof of the tower, took a deep breath. The monsters that were to populate the surroundings moved away.

Neither arrows, nor magic attacks from magic users, nor any ranged attacks were needed.

Ground-breaking, world-shaking, earth-shattering… there weren’t enough words to describe the events that had just happened.

“The monsters are pulling away. It’s a lie, right?”

“Our win? Did we win?”

Many soldiers were thrilled by the miracle. Only those with good intuition turned pale in the face.

Walm sensed something akin to the ebb tide before the tsunami.

“Look around! Don’t neglect your search, don’t miss anything!!!”

Confirming the status quo, Walm, narrowing his eyes, caught something incredible.

“Did the mountain just move?”

“No way, that’s impossible.”

“No, no, it’s definitely moving.”

The mountains couldn’t move. Walm wanted to believe that it was just an illusion, a hallucination, but the soldiers around him noticed it too.

“What? The mountain is burning.”

“…Not a mountain, it’s not a mountain.”

“Oh God, it’s a “Dragon”, a dragon species has arrived!!!”

One of the soldiers guessed the thing they were seeing. 

The famous “Gigantic Dragon” was on its way to Dandurg Castle.

“What, is that?”

Walm desperately held back his whole body so as not to lose strength. Looking at the thing, one could tell that the crawler he had fought before was just a slightly larger lizard. What was visible to his naked eye, was something fit to be called a “natural disaster with will”.

A living natural disaster that was well over 40 meters tall, and the mana emanating from its body even permeated the surrounding atmosphere. The scales looked so red and burning like lava. They radiated a dangerous feeling that told you not to touch and disturb.

Every time it took a step, the dull earth turned bright red.

“No way… it’s one of the “Five Great Dragons”, it’s the Flame Emperor Dragon!!!”

“Flame Emperor Dragon!? It hasn’t been witnessed for 150 years. Why is such a monster coming this way?”

“The great outbreak must’ve awakened it from its slumber.”

Among the dragons that were the champions of the ecosystem, the dragons named “Emperor” were at the top. Even Walm, who had no idea about monsters, could understand that.

Only two of five great dragons had been subjugated by the three big major countries in the past. And, it was for the survival of mankind. Even so, this was mainly due to what is called “Crumbling Giant” and “Great Spirit Magic”.

In the long history, catastrophes caused by dragons had been passed down as myths. A story about the great alliance of 100 countries bent on hegemony, or a great empire destroyed by a dragon. Such a monster, which belonged to the “Natural Enemies of Mankind”, now rushed upon the Highserk Empire.

A monster that even if the Four-Country Alliance and Highserk decided to work together still couldn’t be sure of winning. Now, the monster was approaching Dandurg Castle, where almost no great figures were present and only had 20,000 regular soldiers at most, including militia.

“Are you kidding me? Contact the HQ, NOW!!”

“What should we do? Immediate retreat!?”

“Take out the ballista…?”

“Is it something that can be managed with such a thing?”

The soldiers ran through the ramparts. It was inevitable to push the strategy. Walm also wanted to agree and prepare to retreat, but being more sensitive to mana than ordinary people without “skill” and magic users, he was the first among the soldiers in the ramparts to notice the unusual sign.

“Get, Get away! Get away from the castle!!”

“Knight-dono, what do you mean!?”

“What? Why is the mana swirling…?”

Walm raised a voice that confused the bewildered soldiers even more.

The air, no, the mana is forming something. 

A huge jaw gate was opened, and the mana that even distorted the space was compressed.

“Wha-! That’s… No way…”

A visible swell of mana spread around the Flame Emperor Dragon. The earth was burning and the soil was melting.

“IT’S DRAGON BREATHHHH!!!”

The ultimate attack that only dragon species could do, the 《Skill》 that could pierce the earth, tear the sea, and break the sky, was called 《Dragon Breath》

On the ramparts, Walm entrusted himself to the strong pillar of the gate tower, curled up like a baby, and deployed a magical barrier with all his might.

Soldiers were running into the gate tower and some were in the shadows of the buildings to improve their survival, even if only slightly.

A few seconds after taking the defensive posture, a glow that seemed to cause the retina to burn, was released.

Even Walm, who had the highest level of fire resistance, felt the heat through the magical barrier and his skin became irritated.

Then, debris and dust covered his body.

Walm was on the floor because of severe tinnitus and an abnormality in the three semicircular canals. The debris kept hitting his armor. And his limbs felt dull. After a while, he was finally able to move.

Walm rose from the rubble and looked around.

Charcoals lay scattered here and there. None had retained the original shape of the body. And no one seemed to be alive.

“Achk… No f*cking way…”

The castle that took a direct hit was in a terrible state. It was hollowed out in a circle and literally disappeared. In the aftermath, the surrounding area was surrounded by fire.

The burned debris crushed the fleeing refugees.

Dragon Breath, which arrived while evaporating the earth, melted a corner of the wall like butter, and the mountains behind it disappeared, only then did the breath finally decline.

“The Headquarters…”

The headquarters, which housed the Brigade Commander and the Battalion Commanders, was obliterated without leaving any dust behind.

A single blow wiped out a third of the Highserk soldiers and refugees, and the chain of command in the castle was on the verge of collapse.

The Flame Emperor Dragon, the main cause of this, continued its invasion and moved on toward Walm’s homeland without looking at Dandurg Castle anymore. The arrogance it displayed was like trying to blow the dust from sight.

“AAHH, aaAAAHHHH!! WHAT THE F*CK WAS THAT!!!….. F*CK THIS WORLD!!!! WHAT, what do you want me to do…”

Not being able to bear the reality anymore, Walm hit the gate tower and roared. He bit his lips and the unbearable taste of blood spread.

The figure of the comrades who had once fought with him appeared in his mind. Next, those with whom he had shared time in Sarajevo Fortress passed through his mind.

“Ayane, Maia, Moritz!!”

Having returned to the absurd reality, Walm left the wall and rushed to his subordinates, who might still be in the treatment center at the moment.

“He, elp, me, ee, ugrh…”

“Haha, No way, it’s a lie, a lieEEE!!”

Many got their limbs crushed by the debris, got burns all over their bodies, and couldn’t even stand up. Only a few were safe. Many were in need of help.

He at least wanted to take her to the treatment center, but he withdrew his outstretched hand and stepped on the ground.

Walm abandoned them. Many were beyond saving, and he had decided who should have the highest priority.

The crying children’s voices and the soldiers’ screams haunted Walm all the way.

The closer he got to his destination, the more injured, burned, and dying people could be seen.

Fortunately, the treatment center was spared.

“Move! Move!!”

People were rushing to the treatment center. Those who were burned, those holding their families, all raised their voices for salvation.

Countless patients were lined up against the outside wall of the treatment center, and many of them had died. Every time the skin stuck to the clothes and equipment, the skin was irritated and the patients groaned softly.

Walm slipped into the gap between the injured.

Inside, he saw that the beds were all occupied and even the unsanitary floors were flooded with patients.

The large room, which should have been ventilated, was soaked with the smell of death. The mixed smell permeated the nasal passages.

The healing magicians were casting magic. And the medics were running around the room.

In the center was Ayane. Her apron was stained with blood and flesh, and she looked very tired, but her hands didn’t stop.

As the relieved Walm exhaled, Ayane noticed Walm.

“Walm-san! You’re safe!?”

Although he was lightly covered in soil, Walm wasn’t injured.

“I was in the shadow of the gate tower and it saved me. I’ll gather the soldiers who can still walk and we’ll evacuate immediately. The headquarters was burned down and the walls were wrecked. Monsters are rushing in, we have to run.”

Walm devised an escape plan. He had no experience in commanding, but with the help of Moritz, he thought that they could gather the surviving Squad and Platoon Commander, and if luck was on their side, perhaps even the Company Commander.

It was necessary to stay as far away as possible from the invasion route of the Flame Emperor Dragon. The exact evacuation destination could be planned while escaping.

“… I can’t.”

Walm was surprised at Ayane’s words. He thought that perhaps it was because she didn’t understand the situation.

“I’ll protect you along the way. It’s hopeless here.”

“What about the people who are injured and can’t move, the people of Myard?”

“They’re not even from Craist, they’re from Myard.”

“It doesn’t matter what country they are from. I, I want to save them.”

“Are you stupid? Do you want to die? Don’t get drunk with self-sacrifice. Be a good girl and follow me!!”

Walm roared, drew his sword, and burned the ground. The surroundings calmed down with the sudden assault.

Walm then grabbed Ayane by her shoulder and tried to pull her out.

Still, Ayane looked at Walm without fear.

“… I don’t want to die. I’m scared of swords, and monsters. Still, I can’t, I can’t abandon the person in front of me.”

Ayane’s body was trembling, but her eyes were full of determination. It was easy for him to dismiss it as nothing important, but…

“…..tch”

I’m such an idiot.

The girl Walm thought was weak had a firmer belief than Walm, who was about to abandon his duty to protect the country he was charged with protecting.

“The “clock hands” will not spin in reverse. You know that… it’s too late”

Walm tried to silence the girl and looked at the place where the headquarters was located. Many Battalion Commanders and Company Commanders had gathered there to get ready before the retreat, but their existences had been wiped out. None had survived the attack.

Some soldiers might have wanted to leave, but nearly half of the soldiers who hadn’t been informed in advance were stuck, not knowing what to do.

Originally, the order was to retreat early. Even if more than half of the soldiers and people would be lost――

The brigade fell to a half-destroyed state, and the chain of command collapsed.

Now, a crowd surrounded Walm, the Knight, the Escort Captain. Right, Walm wasn’t the only one dismayed by the situation.

“Knight-dono, what should we do?”

“There are no more higher-ups, not even one Battalion Commander left.”

The Highserk soldiers, who until just now had bravely shot down the enemy, were dismayed and awaiting instructions.

Originally, the order was to retreat early. Even if more than half of the soldiers and people would be lost――

Walm, who was about to open his mouth, noticed someone reaching for his sleeve. It was a crying girl looking at him with tears in her eyes.

“Please, help…”

Her voice was so weak like that of an insect.

Don’t think, it’s just an illusion… 

What can a mere soldier, a human like me can do?

The injured, the soldiers, and the citizens looked at Walm, asking for salvation.

You’re all asking the wrong person.

They weren’t wrong. It was said that even if the HQ was lost, the policy should be maintained and the leader should be inherited by the highest rank soldier on the spot. But, unfortunately, deep down, Walm was basically just a weak man who believed in miracles. In fact, he was among the lowest class of military personnel.

Damn it!

Inwardly spitting out a swear word, Walm made a decision.

“……Block the hole in the wall, even if it’s rough. Any soldiers. Follow me!!”

Whether the choice he made was correct or incorrect, the sword had been pulled out. Walm had no choice but to move his feet forward.

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TN: So, the kanji used for the dragon subspecies, the Crawler is “竜” which is usually used more to name the western type, while the one used for the Flame Emperor Dragon is “龍” which is older kanji, and usually used for the eastern type.  And in the east, a dragon is more mythical and sacred.
For sure, now, many don’t really care much about it, and many use “竜” to describe any dragon, since this kanji is the new one.
But the fact is, the author used a different kanji. Perhaps it’s to make it easier for the reader to imagine the appearance of the dragon or there is another meaning…

TN: Join my discord channel if you want.