A thin branch and a person.
A dangling arm, the branch almost touching the ground.
It looked like a sword. A sword sharper and more pointed than any other.
After that, there was nothing to think, drink, or do.
Everything happened in an instant and ended in an instant.
Encrid saw the phantom of the battlefield.
The moment the opponent seemed to move, he instinctively swung the branch.
Whoosh.
The branch Encrid held sliced through the air heavily.
It sliced through only air.And the tip of the opponent’s branch touched his neck.
Tap.
‘How?’
He recalled the scene he had just seen. He had seen it. So, it would be correct to say he was struck despite seeing it.
“Everyone seems to say a word after it’s over, so I will too. It was timing.”
The man said.
The opponent had used a quick sword. And he utilized it like a textbook for the Correct Sword Technique.
He didn’t move first, he countered Encrid’s downward strike.
‘Not just parrying.’
Encrid’s eyes fell to the opponent’s feet.
He saw the dirt ground softly drawing a semicircle following the opponent’s boots.
‘Twisting his body to hide his centerline.’
It’s basic. In some ways, it could be called a simple technique.
He twisted his body to dodge and finished with a stab.
‘If it were the battlefield.’
It would have felt similar to the first stab experience.
He thought he had reached a completely different level since then.
Far and high. The opponent’s skill was exceptionally superior.
For an ordinary person, realizing their limits would be enough to be overwhelmed with despair and frustration.
He showed such a difference. With just a single strike of a stick.
“You don’t seem that young.”
The man spoke, hinting at a question, so Encrid answered.
“Thirty. Once more?”
“Once more?”
Nod.
“Heh.”
At Encrid’s nod, the man let out a hollow laugh.
From his perspective, this guy wasn’t normal.
He showed the difference.
He stepped out with passion, but his limits were clear, so he wanted to break his spirit to prevent wasting time.
Defeat is painful for everyone.
Especially when facing an overwhelmingly superior opponent.
What does it mean to lose?
What happens to someone who faces defeat?
They despair, they’re frustrated, and they suffer.
Some do not accept it and struggle.
‘Is it struggling?’
It didn’t seem that way.
“You seem to be taking away the timing of my downward strike. How did you do it?”
Instead, he was asking to be taught more.
There was no sign of embarrassment. Just like when he first tempted him, he only looked at him with eyes holding a silent flame that would burn through anything.
‘This guy is crazy.’
Even with such thoughts, the man took his stance again.
Despite seeing the opponent’s skills and limits.
He still wanted to spar again.
Naturally, Encrid lost again.
He lost four more times.
He didn’t tire and kept challenging, and the swordsman from Pollid accepted every challenge.
“You are not at the level to face him yet.”
Jaxon offered advice instead of consolation, but Encrid didn’t particularly need consolation.
Losing, experiencing defeat, he had done that countless times.
He had been defeated by talents younger than himself.
He was pushed back by mercenaries who picked up the sword later than he did.
He had even lost to a guy who played the role of vigilante in the village.
He had lost to bandits.
During his mercenary days, he had been defeated by bastards who proved that personality and skill do not correlate.
He had fled from beasts and monsters countless times.
When a harpy’s claw pierced his comrade’s heart, he was busy running away.
If he had hung his head in shame each time, Encrid wouldn’t be here acting as a squad leader.
There was no room to be hurt by such things.
Just.
“It was fun.”
It was simply enjoyable. Encrid was honest.
“… Sometimes, Squad Leader, you seem very strange.”
Encrid really didn’t want to hear such things from his own squad member.
Even though Jaxon was the most normal one he brought along, this guy wasn’t really an ordinary soldier either.
Ignoring Pollid completely when he spoke wasn’t normal.
Even now, Jaxon was barely acknowledging Pollid.
Whenever there was a chance, Pollid would sneak up and say,
“You soldier bastard, I remember your face. I am the next leader of Rockfreed.”
And he would be completely ignored.
“Hey, hey, are you not answering? Why, are you so scared you can’t speak?”
Still ignored.
“You bastard, I’ll make you regret it later with tears running down your face.”
Even then, he was ignored.
Consistent, one might say.
Eventually, Pollid ended up complaining to Encrid.
“Hey, why does that guy keep ignoring me?”
Treating him like he didn’t exist must have driven him mad, and from Encrid’s perspective, Pollid looked like he was on the verge of tears.
Encrid felt sorry for him and offered advice.
“Because you keep talking to him.”
It was a wise answer to a foolish question.
He ignored him because he kept talking to him.
He shouldn’t have started talking in the first place.
Encrid nodded to himself, acknowledging his own generosity. It was the kindest advice possible.
Pollid trembled at those words.
“You, you, you.”
Seeing him unable to continue, Encrid cheerfully walked past him.
“Soldier, you’re ruthless.”
The Company Commander said from the side.
But he couldn’t have been more kind.
Leona, who heard this, even spat out her tea.
“Hmm, I just want to say once more that I really like you.”
She left with those words.
No, why does this happen when I show kindness?
* * *
The repeated sparring ended after a full day had passed.
It was now time to wrap things up.
The Border Guard, the Company Commander, and the unnamed swordsman.
Encrid had gained a lot.
Everyone, including Jaxon, was just in awe of his passion.
But for Encrid, it was an invaluable time.
‘Especially.’
The opponent swordsman taught him what a quick sword is, how to counter it, and what an opponent can do with speed.
Nothing was imprinted in his mind immediately like a flash of lightning.
‘That’s okay.’
When he hits a wall, it will be incredibly useful.
The next morning dawned after washing off sweat, warming by the fireplace, and checking his armor.
“Squad Leader.”
Krais opened the inn door.
Behind him was the bald Gilpin, and in Gilpin’s hand was a friend with half his face smashed in.
It seemed impossible to recognize his face after being beaten so badly.
“That’s him.”
The Company Commander recognized him at a glance. The senses of a Fairy seemed different indeed.
“Hic.”
The foolish Pollid hiccupped.
Encrid wondered how such a person could be considered the head of a merchant group and what the people under him were thinking.
‘Are they planning to use him as a puppet?’
If so, well.
If not, why would such a skilled swordsman be there?
It didn’t seem like he had been caught with a weakness.
“P-please spare me.”
The captured man drooled blood-mixed saliva. Blood and saliva pooled on the floor.
He must have been beaten quite severely.
“This guy was rough at first, but after some conversation, his personality softened.”
Krais said.
Of course, the conversation Krais mentioned didn’t involve using his tongue.
Fists or feet.
It seemed a knife was also involved.
Judging by the wounds on his forearms, there were cuts too.
They were roughly wrapped in old linen bandages, but the traces were clear.
“I am the leader. Yes, I was blinded by Krona and caused this trouble.”
The man confessed without being asked.
“Hold on.”
Everyone was focused on the beaten man’s words, but Leona’s voice caught their attention.
“I need someone restrained. The person responsible is Platoon Leader Torres, right?”
“…Yes.”
There were many eyes watching. When Torres nodded, two Border Guard members put their hands under the man’s armpits.
They headed upstairs.
Soon, Leona, Pollid, Torres, the talkative brown-haired man, the swordsman who sparred with Encrid, and their group followed upstairs.
Encrid and the Company Commander also decided to join them.
“I ask you two to continue guarding me.”
With those words, Jaxon stayed below. More precisely, he didn’t seem to want to leave the spot where the Carmen Collection’s stiletto was in front of him.
As everyone moved, Krais approached Encrid, who was about to go up, and quietly asked.
“What is it?”
“Are you asking because you don’t know, or are you asking to confirm?”
“Let’s say I’m asking because I want to receive what I’m due.”
This big-eyed maniac is obsessed with Krona.
It’s natural to be paid for the work done.
But he couldn’t give the stiletto.
“You take the entire guard fee for this month.”
When Krais caught the man, he noticed a slight twitch of a smile at the corner of Jaxon’s mouth before it stopped.
Taking the Carmen Collection from Jaxon’s hands now would be nearly impossible with any ordinary skill.
And there was no intention of doing so.
Nor was there any intention of shirking payment for the work done. Encrid handed over the pouch he was supposed to receive from the guild, that is, from Krais.
“Consider it promised.”
If Krais knew the payment was the Carmen Collection, what would he do?
Would he just let it go?
There wasn’t much to think about.
He would. He would let it go.
Because it was something Jaxon coveted.
Krais knew his place within the squad well.
Encrid wasn’t the only one who had learned how to survive within the squad.
Whether it was Jaxon, Rem, Ragna, or Audin.
When it came to what they desired, Krais stepped back cleanly.
He wasn’t foolish enough to put his hand in a dog’s mouth to check if it bites when looking at a hunting dog tied to a leash.
“See you later.”
Encrid gently pushed Krais’s forehead and headed upstairs.
They occupied one room.
In the middle, the kneeling leader of the spy unit.
Torres stood next to the man with his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Three people from Pollid’s side, Leona was alone.
When Encrid stood next to the Company Commander and Leona, the scene finally set. When Encrid arrived, Leona began to speak.
“I know he needs to be interrogated separately, but may I ask a few questions first?”
The question was directed at Torres.
“Go ahead.”
Torres’ attitude had been the same from the first day until now.
He was always stern towards outsiders of the Border Guard. Leona didn’t seem particularly bothered by it.
Leona was the assassination target. She had every right to ask a few questions first, even if it wasn’t a full interrogation.
She was the root cause of all the problems.
The succession issue in the merchant group was the starting point of everything.
The man who had been beaten to a pulp.
Leona knelt down to meet his eyes.
“Who ordered you?”
“I-I don’t know. All I know is that I was told to target the lady in the inn using available resources…”
The man spoke directly despite trembling. He seemed to sense that not speaking properly would mean the end for him.
“Do you recognize anyone in this room?”
The man looked around. He glanced at everyone, including Encrid, then shook his head.
They wouldn’t have been stupid enough to order it directly.
Usually, a few intermediaries are involved in such plots.
From here, it was interrogation time.
Pollid targeted Leona.
If that were revealed, the issue of succession in the merchant group would be settled.
That’s what Encrid anticipated.
“It seems like some fools were greedy for my purse and decided to take action.”
Leona began to say something unexpected.
“…What?”
The captured leader of the spy unit tilted his head in confusion.
“It wasn’t me!”
And the foolish Pollid showcased his wit.
He hadn’t even listened to what Leona said.
“Who said it was?”
Leona countered.
“Uh, no, that’s not it.”
Pollid’s pupils shook violently.
Considering she slapped him in the face upon their first meeting, now he was acting like this.
Encrid thought he would have been extremely embarrassed if he were in Pollid’s position.
In the end, Pollid stammered and uttered the dumbest possible response he could with his tongue, unable to continue.
Torres frowned.
Everyone from Pollid’s side was rather calm.
The situation was unfolding oddly.
They all thought Pollid would be blamed.
“Bold.”
The Company Commander whispered from behind, just loud enough for Encrid to hear.
Bold? What was it?
Encrid didn’t easily understand the situation.
Curious, he let his mind think it through.
There must be a reason for a person to act uniquely.
Of course, the squad members, including Rem, often did crazy things without reason.
But Leona wasn’t Rem.
Encrid reflected on the situation.
The Rockfreed Trading Company, Pollid, Leona, the succession issue, the attack within the Border Guard, the Border Guard members, the captured man, Aspen’s spies.
Reviewing what he knew, he realized something and nodded to himself.
This was a part he hadn’t considered because he was so engrossed in sparring and training.
He understood at that moment.
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