Torn Asunder by War, A Sword Saint for Tomorrow X The Knight Wizards!! – Chapter 35

Chapter 35
  “Good work, it seems like it was quite an intense battle.”
  
  I received the lidded paper cup with a mouthpiece that was offered along with words of comfort, briefly expressed my gratitude, and sipped the contents. The bittersweet taste of coffee spread throughout my mouth.
  
  The slight tension I had been feeling eased a bit, and I finally felt a sense of relief.
  
  “… We had a terrible time right from the start.”
  “Ahh~, it was tough.”
  
  As I let out a sigh along with Revia, we looked up at our mounts. The armor of the Clawsolas, which had been repeatedly hit by attack magic, was damaged in several places.
  
  Magicians with earth magic were approaching the areas that needed repair in elevated work platforms. They were manipulating the magic-alchemically made materials they held, softening them with magic interference and treating them like clay to fill in the damaged parts.
  
  Perhaps to further increase the strength, the blacksmiths working together swung their hammers down, creating a series of hammering sounds.
  
  Naturally, things like painting were being put off for later, so as I watched the Clawsolas gradually become a patchwork, I took another sip of the coffee I had received.
  
  Nina’s gaze, which had been similarly focused on the Clawsolas Belphegor, returned to me. She, who had been frowning the whole time, let out a self-deprecating laugh.
  
  “I was naive in many ways. Whoever they are, to go this far… Honestly, I’m afraid to hear the number of casualties and the extent of the damage.”
  
  “Don’t worry too much. It’s the attackers who are at fault.”
  “Thank you, Claude-dono… Including the offer to help with the rescue efforts.”
  
  Immediately after the battle at the east gate of the city walls, the Clawsolas’ pseudo-eyeballs had captured images of several dead bodies and collapsed houses. Following Aynst’s lead, who had immediately started giving instructions to the infantry upon returning, I also asked Raizes to have the personnel waiting at the barracks cooperate.
  
  By now, Dino and Lise should be leading a squad-sized group of soldiers, removing rubble and searching for survivors in the city block near the east gate.
  
  “I hope the damage is less than it appears.”
  “Yes, I truly hope so.”
  
  The melancholy young lady had allowed the technology of the Clawsolas to be released in order to fight against the Aberrations. Even if it was within the expected range, it probably wasn’t something she could easily come to terms with.
  
  I could sympathize with her feelings… But we learned a lot from the battle against humans. In order not to make the same mistakes, we needed to make use of what we learned.
  
  “…The Clawsolas’ attack magic is quite troublesome.”
  “Hmm, you can rely on me more often, you know?”
  
  Revia, who had keenly picked up my mutterings, nodded and leaned closer, so I patted her head for now.
  
  While being teased by Nina for that, we continued our vigilance until dawn, when the sky began to brighten, and then we fell asleep in a corner of the workshop.
  
  …
  …
  …
  
  In conclusion, there was no further attack, and the next day, the crashed Clawsolas of unknown affiliation was recovered.
  
  Incidentally, the exclusive knights and mages of the Clawsolas that we had dealt the first blow to were killed in action. It seems that the crew of the Clawsolas whose abdomen was pierced by Belphegor’s sharp claws took advantage of the chaos and escaped.
  
  “Aynst and Daniel’s opponents were also dead in the cockpits. I can’t get any evidence, but I have a few suspects in mind as to who the mastermind is.”
  
  Nina, with her elbows on the desk and her hands clasped in front of her, explained the various situations with a troubled expression… But being clearly informed of the deaths of the pilots of the enemy Clawsolas I had fought disrupted my concentration.
  
  Apparently, it’s true that on the battlefield, the psychological resistance to taking a life decreases when there’s distance and weapons involved, but I can’t deny that it hits you later.
  
  ‘The moment I decided to cut them down, I thought I was prepared to k*ll and be killed…’
  
  I was relieved that I had shown a surprisingly proper rejection reaction, but I couldn’t calm down. The young lady tilted her head and looked at me with suspicion.
  
  “You look pale. Are you alright?”
  “I know it’s a bit late, but I’m just now starting to feel the reality of having killed people in last night’s battle…”
  
  Perhaps I wanted to tell someone, so the words came out of my mouth smoothly and without concealment. Nina averted her emerald eyes and began to speak apologetically.
  
  “Apparently, based on research from another world’s Israel or somewhere like that, soldiers feel as much resistance to killing as being killed. You’re normal, Claude-dono… Though it’s not my place to say, as someone who wasn’t on the front lines.”
  
  “Thank you. I appreciate your concern.”
  
  Her logical way of encouraging me, which was typical of her, was a little amusing. I relaxed my shoulders and expressed my gratitude.
  
  From behind me, I could hear Raizes’ dangerous mutterings like, “Should I have let him cut down a criminal or two beforehand?” But I ignored it as it was bothersome.
  
  “Even so, that movement for your first time in human combat was amazing, Knight King-dono.”
  “I was just acting on instinct.”
  
  To me, Aynst, who in a split-second decision, without remorse or mercy, used our Clawsolas as a shield to engage in close combat with the enemy, and didn’t show any regret afterwards, is more deserving of respect.
  
  When I told him that without sugarcoating it, the Knight Captain of Zephyrus laughed heartily.
  
  “I am deeply honored by your praise. To me, it is truly a compliment.”
  “Both master and servant have quite the personalities…”
  
  “How rude! Don’t lump me in with him.”
  
  Nina, who had a shocked expression that said, “What is this guy talking about?”, started to protest, and I was subjected to an endless stream of complaints about the Knight Captain…
  
  “Ahem, we don’t have time for this either, Nina-kyo.”
  “I apologize… We’ve gotten off track. Let’s return to the main topic.”
  
  Prompted by Raizes’ theatrical cough, the young lady brought the conversation she had derailed back on track.