CHAPTER 123

What is going on?

The two armies faced each other on a gravel field, with a river on the left and mountains and forests on the right.

They were within arrow range. Some archers from both sides were already getting ready.

With a tense atmosphere, the moment was ripe for spears to pierce throats, swords to swing, or maces to crush helmets.

But it began with, well, what could it be called?

'Provocation?'

"Hey, you won't even get to use your gear before you die, huh?"

Three men stepped forward and shouted loudly. Their voices were clear.

The insults hit hard despite the distance of over three hundred paces.

Their voices were that loud.

It seemed like a pointless act, but...

'Is this working?'

It was working. Morale was already low, and now this added humiliation made it unbearable.

But if they fired arrows and charged?

With the numbers being nearly equal, low morale meant the battle was lost before it began.

So...

'Watching and waiting seems right.'

But would just watching lead to a solution?

It seemed they needed to use some extraordinary tactics or send a small elite force to cause chaos.

Even without a keen sense of the battle, it was clear something needed to be done immediately.

Still, Encrid was more relaxed than the others.

At least he didn't feel like he was going to die here.

Whether he got minor injuries or not.

Whether his platoon members were nearby or not.

It was just an instinct. He had grown significantly in that regard.

If this were before, he would be desperately thinking of ways to survive, but now he was analyzing the situation.

'Am I getting complacent?'

It seemed trivial. At least for now, it wasn't Encrid's problem to worry about.

If he were leading a unit or responsible for his subordinates' lives, this would naturally be a concern.

Encrid wondered if it was right for him to lead this crazy squad.

They were all following him voluntarily.

So for now, he needed to handle the immediate situation.

"Andrew, don't get worked up."

Encrid raised a hand to stop Andrew's chest.

"What?"

"Being a virgin isn't something to be ashamed of."

He repeated this to soothe Andrew's wounded feelings.

He remembered how Andrew had been.

They met during a mission with the scout squad, and the enemy had used the same insult that had been used to provoke him before.

He needed to calm Andrew down to keep him from losing his composure.

"...It seems like they're mocking me."

Andrew muttered, his eyes drooping.

It wasn't the case. It was a misunderstanding. Encrid reassured him.

"Hold it in now, the time to unleash your anger will come."

"I'm not even angry, and I don't think that insult was directed at me."

"Not now, I said. Hold on."

Encrid comforted Andrew, who was pretending to be nonchalant. He was proactive about it.

He even patted Andrew on the shoulder and gently pushed him back. Andrew stepped back weakly.

"Ahem."

Next to him, Enri cleared his throat.

Mac looked awkward.

The other platoon members...

"Snort."

Rem started chuckling. Even Jaxon, who usually showed no expression, gave a faint smile as he glanced at Andrew.

"Brother, it's okay. Seek solace in the divine."

Audin even suggested Andrew become a monk.

Ragna glanced at Andrew and nodded.

"It's alright. There's still a chance."

A chance for what? It's not like he didn't do it because he couldn't.

"Why are you all doing this to me?"

Andrew truly had no ulterior thoughts. He had even forgotten the words Encrid used to provoke him in the past.

If it hadn't been brought up now, it might have never resurfaced.

He had to train his swordsmanship.

He had to save his family.

Anything else was a luxury for him. He was a diligent worker, committed to filling his life with purpose.

So why were they teasing him over this?

"It's alright, man."

Rem lightly punched Andrew's shoulder.

Andrew felt wronged, and a new anger surged within him.

Naturally, this anger turned outward.

If he directed his anger here, he wouldn't live to see the next morning. His instincts redirected his anger.

'It's because of those crazy ghouls.'

The ones who had shouted about the gear were the problem. He wanted to rip open the mouths of those enemy soldiers.

The exchange of insults continued.

A few men from their side responded, but it felt like they were losing.

A verbal battle, of all things.

It seemed absurd, but the enemy's strategy and intent were clear.

They wanted to crush their morale completely.

It was evident, seeing how the atmosphere worsened with just a few words.

However, around Encrid, the mood was light-hearted.

While it seemed insignificant in the grand scope of the battlefield...

"Um, when we return to the city, I can introduce you to a good salon."

"Just don't lose your first time in the red-light district."

"For your first time, it's better to be with an experienced older woman. I know an aunt who might be suitable."

The soldiers around started making teasing comments.

"Will you all shut up?"

Andrew glared fiercely at everyone.

Thanks to his sacrifice, the mood around them lightened. The best way to deal with insults was to ignore them.

"Quite a talent you have."

Krais, understanding Encrid's intention, made a comment.

It was a time when a change in atmosphere was needed. Everything begins with small steps.

Krais was contemplating what he would do if he were the commander.

Normally, he would be idly waiting for the battle to end from the rear, but here he stood on the battlefield.

Naturally, he began thinking about ways to survive, which means thinking about what was needed to win the battle.

The first step was to change the atmosphere.

Encrid had started that.

"A talent? I was genuinely concerned. There was an order not to step forward and fight."

It was clearly a joke.

Was this all planned? No, it didn't seem like that. It was probably done instinctively.

'He's quite a peculiar person.'

This was part of Encrid's charm. Despite living a tough life, he never forgot to joke and never tolerated a grim atmosphere.

Andrew's face turned red from being teased.

But the atmosphere around the mad independent platoon began to shift.

So, what now? Let's fight already.

That's the feeling, the kind of vibe that started spreading.

The platoon was made up of people with that kind of mindset, so Rem, feeling restless, spoke up.

"But how long are we just going to watch?"

It would be better to have a fight to relieve the tension.

Both armies were filled with tension but hadn't made a move.

They were holding their bowstrings taut, ready to shoot at any moment.

Some of the more nervous ones couldn't sleep properly and were even getting nauseous.

Understandably so.

This tense atmosphere had been going on for days.

Rem and the others were starting to get annoyed.

Fortunately, the three new members, Andrew, Mac, and Enri, were in good spirits.

They stood watch together.

Having bonded over being harassed by Rem and the other platoon members, they had grown closer.

Enri kept his distance but fit in well enough.

Enduring Rem and the others was no easy task.

As a result, they were not swept away by the pervasive sense of defeat that had spread among the entire army.

They were too busy dealing with harassment and standing guard to have time for other thoughts.

"Want to say something?"

Krais suddenly suggested.

The army's stance was clear: they were waiting for the enemy's attack.

Krais suggested Encrid take advantage of that.

Encrid was recognized by all the platoon members, even the sharp-tongued Rem. His words and ideas were enough to unsettle the enemy.

"I don't really have anything to say."

Whether he was eloquent or not, what could he say in such an atmosphere?

Encrid was sincere. Still, Krais insisted.

"Just to change the mood."

Why not?

It didn't seem like a difficult task.

The enemy and ally were fighting with words instead of swords and spears.

Encrid moved slightly. The independent platoon had no fixed positions.

As they moved, a path naturally opened.

A few familiar soldiers asked where he was going as he passed by.

Encrid replied in a calm tone to those who asked.

"Just going to add a few words."

At that point, Encrid didn't have much in mind.

The enemy was busy mocking them, calling them useless and questioning what the queen's consorts could do.

Encrid stood at the forefront, where Vengeance was present.

"Back at the front as soon as we return from the rear?"

"Our unit has maintained its strength the best."

It seemed they had replaced their archers with all spearmen. This was the 3rd platoon of the 2nd company, placing Encrid at the front of the 2nd company.

Encrid glanced at Vengeance and then at the enemy soldiers in the distance. He seemed to know what to say.

Encrid boldly stepped forward a few more paces.

Rem, Ragna, and Jaxon joined him.

They were beyond the range where arrows could easily reach, but Encrid remained fearless.

If it was going to be a battle of words, and if low morale was an issue, why not show some boldness?

"Hey, you there, come out!"

He shouted, provoking the enemy. He was challenging them, implying that they had stepped forward, so what would the enemy do? It was a bold question.

The pattern of these battles had been established.

After verbal exchanges, there would be a duel challenge by lower-ranked soldiers.

It was a way to assert dominance through combat without involving commanders.

So, why not do the same here?

'I'll do it.'

Krais had given him a few pointers, which sounded reasonable to Encrid.

"You can take down five in a row, right? That should be enough."

The plan was simple.

If Encrid participated in the duels and overwhelmed the enemy, it would demonstrate the disparity in strength, even if the enemy commanders chose to intervene.

'Overwhelmingly.'

The idea was to show the gap in skill by killing the enemy repeatedly, and to force the enemy commanders to intervene, only to defeat them as well.

Krais seemed to have a plan, something about boosting morale and achieving a greater goal.

Encrid trusted Krais' intellect and cunning, which is why he stepped onto the battlefield.

As he moved forward provocatively, the allied soldiers murmured.

"What's going on?"

"Ah, it's the Madmen Platoon leader."

"Encrid?"

"The Spell Breaker?"

For those who knew him, Encrid was a familiar face, a well-known figure in the unit. More importantly, he had recently proven his skill, showing he wasn't someone to be underestimated.

The entire allied army felt a strange sensation.

Even Vengeance, seeing Encrid step forward, sensed something was about to happen.

The reason? Unclear.

The battlefield's atmosphere was like a sharp blade. Until now, it seemed to have been pointed towards the allied forces.

But now, it felt like the wind was changing direction.

Krais believed his plan would work.

'Well, let's see how this goes.'

He had a rough idea of what the allied commander, Major Marcus, was waiting for. Having heard rumors about Marcus and guessed his combat style, he figured something was being prepared.

Krais decided to help set things in motion. If his guess was wrong, they could always retreat quietly.

In any case, the potential loss was minimal, and the possible gain was significant.

As Encrid stepped forward, shifting the atmosphere, an enemy soldier who had been mocking them stepped out.

"Here he comes, you bastard."

Encrid didn't have any particular insults in mind as he approached, but he did brush past Vengeance.

Why did Vengeance dislike him?

The conclusion was simple: his face.

"And what about you? Why do you have a ghoul's head?"

With a casual remark, Encrid's words echoed softly through the wind.

The comment wasn't particularly profound.

But at a distance where they could vaguely see each other's faces, the enemy soldier, whom Encrid referred to as "ghoul head", looked at him.

"What the hell?"

The enemy soldier's annoyance spiked upon seeing Encrid's face—handsome and irritatingly so.

"What?"

"Was your mother a ghoul?"

Encrid suggested, wondering if the soldier's mother might be of another race.

Thinking it was a reasonable suspicion, he pointed at the enemy's face.

"What, you son of a bitch?"

The enemy soldier immediately erupted in anger. It was a miracle born from just two exchanges of words.

Audin, hearing this, couldn't help but be amazed.

'Even the Gods would punish such words.'

Rem burst into laughter.

The others were no different.

Despite Mac telling him not to go, Andrew had followed behind, and now his face brightened with a smile.

Yeah, with a face like that, what could he possibly say?

His appearance was unusually wild.

With a nose so upturned it seemed like it could catch raindrops and eyes so small you could hardly see their color without a close look.

His face was covered in blemishes.

It was understandable that he could be mistaken for a ghoul.

"Hahaha!"

Andrew laughed brightly.

"Let's see if your hands are as sharp as your tongue."

The enemy soldier had taken the bait.

What started with words was about to escalate into a clash of spears, swords, and blood.

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