CHAPTER 68

Swish.

The world spun around.

With a thud, he hit the ground on his back, knocking the wind out of him.

"If you slam him a bit harder, your ribs and organs will get damaged."

As Encrid grimaced through the pain, the musical voice of the Company Commander resounded from above him.

"Stop?"

"One more time."

If he could, Encrid wanted nothing more than to repeat the process, even if it meant being beheaded by Naidil.

He knew he couldn't win.

Rem had once glanced at the Fairy Company Commander and said, "That woman is a complete monster."

Then there was Ragna's assessment: "She's the best among the Company Commanders."

And Audin's addition: "Her body is well-built."

Knowing he couldn't win didn't change anything, so Encrid gripped his sword with both hands.

"Let's go."

The Fairy Company Commander was the same as always. Her voice was flat and emotionless. Naidil curved inward.

The sword Naidil, made by the fairies, bent as if to slice and then, at some point, became a point to thrust.

Earlier, Encrid had tried to avoid the thrust and allowed the distance.

This time, he stepped back and swung his longsword upward.

He definitely had the advantage in strength.

If he could strike Naidil upward from below, it would create an opening.

He envisioned the course of the fight in his mind.

This natural combat prediction came from countless real battles, fights where his life was on the line.

He predicted the opponent's reactions and prepared accordingly.

Those who were inherently talented or had honed their skills in real combat could do this naturally, but for Encrid, it was a skill gained only after losing his life countless times.

Saaak.

Just before the Company Commander's Naidil clashed with Encrid's longsword, Naidil bent softly.

It really seemed like a leaf, living up to its nickname, the Leaf Sword.

The blade bent and wavered.

It was a trick of the Company Commander's wrist. She twisted and shook it. Despite seeing the blade bend, Encrid put more strength into his sword, determined to hit it.

In the end, his upward swing missed the bending blade. Encrid slashed at empty air.

It was swordsmanship that could only be described as a trick.

The Fairy then closed the distance again.

She moved right into his chest. Encrid, who had prepared, raised his knee.

Thud.

The Company Commander did not evade. Instead, she overlapped her hands and pressed down on the knee.

Before Encrid could apply proper force, the pressure disrupted his balance.

Knowing yet still falling for it. That was what Encrid thought.

He had anticipated such a close-range fight, yet still.

As he tried to headbutt impulsively, the Company Commander dodged, receiving Encrid's forehead with his shoulder.

The following sequence was similar to before. Only the strike technique was different.

The Company Commander, with both hands clasped together, blocked his knee and struck Encrid near the heart.

Thud!

For a moment, he lost his breath again, and strength drained from his limbs.

If this had been a fight to the death, he might have bit his tongue in a desperate struggle, but it was a sparring match.

At this point, he had already lost.

"Gah, hoo, hoo."

Encrid stepped back a few steps, then knelt on the ground, catching his breath.

When he finally looked up, he saw the Company Commander's green eyes.

"More?"

She asked.

"Hoo."

Encrid's heart ached painfully, but he smiled.

He was genuinely happy that she didn't stop just because she had won.

And so he kept charging again and again.

Getting hit, falling down, and lying sprawled out.

* * *

"Did you get beaten up for not shoveling the snow? Is that what happened?"

Back at the quarters, Rem, wrapped in a heated leather, reacted first.

"What?"

"Why do you look like that? Who did this?"

Despite his words, he seemed ready to rush out, but his hands clutched the heated leather more tightly.

Yeah, that must be pretty warm. Encrid knew it too.

Today was particularly cold.

"What happened?"

Ragna asked.

For some reason, even Jaxon, who was at the quarters today, watched Encrid closely. It was as if he was asking with his eyes.

Audin muttered quietly.

"Why do you always get beaten up, brother?"

'The way he says it makes me sound really fragile.'

Like a childish kid who gets hit at the slightest provocation.

Thinking this, Encrid answered.

"I was sparring."

"With whom?"

"The Company Commander."

"Our Company Commander?"

Encrid nodded.

"Why'd you do that? If you want to get beaten up, I could do it for you."

That guy's words were always so irritating.

Encrid didn't bother to respond. He had just washed up with superhuman effort.

Fortunately, their barracks had a bath that provided hot water with just a bit of Krona.

Without it, he might have given up on washing altogether.

His entire body ached. He didn't even have the strength to lift a finger. But that was okay. He just needed to rest.

A couple of days of good rest should be enough.

With no duties or training, he had plenty of time to rest.

"Considering your efforts for the city's security, you are granted a four-day leave. There will be no bonus."

The Company Commander had said this after ending their sparring session as the sun was setting.

No duties, she had said.

Although there was no bonus, Encrid considered the sparring itself as a reward. Moreover, there were the spoils obtained from the Thieves Guild.

"It must have been over ten times."

That was the number of times he had been sprawled out on the frozen ground. His body suffered, but he had learned something.

"What I lack now."

The Company Commander spoke not with words, but with her sword and fists.

Mastering swordsmanship, Focus Point, The Heart of the Beast, and the Sense of the Blade was fundamental. Those were the basics.

However, Encrid realized there was something he needed to fill within himself.

"You're dull."

The Company Commander's final words hit like a dagger, but it didn't hurt much.

Teachers he had before were far harsher.

"Is this really something you need to learn?"

"Just give up and go back to your hometown to farm."

"I can't teach someone who's going to die as a third-rate swordsman."

The better the person, the harsher their words.

Though the Company Commander called Encrid dull, Encrid still obtained what he wanted from that dullness.

'A lack of technique.'

Specifically, a lack of body-handling technique.

The Fairy Company Commander repeatedly threw him down in the same way. She taught with her body, and Encrid learned with his.

He never missed an opportunity to learn, like a hawk hunting its prey.

'What I need.'

Wrestling, grappling, hand-to-hand combat, and ground-fighting techniques.

Just because one swings a sword doesn't mean one fights only with the sword.

Using hands, feet, and the body was also part of it.

Encrid had employed such tactics before.

'But it's clear I never learned properly.'

The Company Commander's skills were outstanding. Especially when she rushed in, throwing him to the ground and breaking his balance, then locking his knee—it was impossible to counter.

What if he drew a dagger and struck down?

No, the Company Commander would dislocate and break his knee joint before he could draw and stab.

'Not easy.'

The point was the difference in technique. There was also a difference in skill level, but what they had learned and possessed was different from the start.

"It was fun, though."

His whole body ached, and he felt as if he was falling apart, but he had learned something.

Moreover, that learning had opened a new path for him, which made Encrid happy.

As he moved to lie down on his bed, he saw a panther peek its head out, looking at him with blue eyes.

"I said I'd give you a name."

It was troublesome not to have a proper name to call him by.

As he lay down on the bed, the panther snuggled into his chest. He felt a warm sensation.

Somehow, the warmth seemed to alleviate his aching body a little.

"Should I name you Stove since you're warm?"

"Is that what you call a name?"

Rem chimed in from the side. This guy always had to butt in.

"Is it weird?"

"Is that even a question?"

From the other side of the bed, Ragna answered. He was lying down, too lazy to get up but still had the energy to talk.

"Brother, do you dislike the panther?"

Even Audin joined in.

"Do you dislike it?"

Encrid asked the panther, which responded by swatting Encrid's cheek with its paw.

"Seems like he really dislikes it."

Muttering, Encrid held the panther in his arms, lost in thought.

What should he name it?

He hadn't expected to be troubled over something like this.

Blackie?

No, that sounds like a dog's name.

Its eyes are blue like a lake, so should I call it Blue Eyes?

That seemed a bit better.

The panther, nestled in his chest, lightly tapped him with its paw, as if reading his thoughts and rejecting all his suggestions.

You don't like Blue Eyes either?

Then what should I call you?

Should I call you Black Panther? That seems convenient enough.

Press.

The panther pressed its paw against his chest, rubbing insistently, showing its strong dislike.

'Can you read my mind or something?'

I had spent the night with the comrades of those I had killed during an external operation.

In such a situation, it was odd that Rem, who snored loudly, and Ragna, who slept like the dead, could sleep so soundly.

Some level of tension was necessary.

Because of this, I couldn't sleep deeply at the thieves' headquarters. I only managed a light sleep, barely closing my eyes for a moment.

After returning, I reported immediately and then went straight into sparring.

Sparring that involved rolling on the frozen ground several times, exhausting my body.

Thanks to that, my body felt lethargic. After washing with hot water and wrapping myself in heated leather and a blanket, warmth seeped into my body.

The warmth from the panther also helped.

The rhythmic pressing of its paws lulled me to sleep.

Encrid was in a half-asleep state.

'What's your name?'

Half in a dream and half in reality, he asked.

In that drowsy state, Encrid had a dream.

In the dream, a beautiful woman with silver blonde hair and blue eyes appeared.

Her wide-open eyes were large and clear, and her straight, prominent nose seemed to reflect her personality.

She seemed like a proud beauty, straight and unyielding.

In the middle of a flower meadow filled with white, red, yellow, and blue blossoms.

She stood alone among the flowers, like a shining star.

A star that gave light to all the flowers.

"You're very beautiful."

Encrid spoke. His voice carried across the meadow to her. It was something he could understand because it was a dream.

And then.

"My name is Esther."

She said.

Her voice also crossed distance and space to reach Encrid.

The meadow and she disappeared again. In his half-asleep state, Encrid mumbled.

"Esther, let's call you Esther."

"...Are you dreaming?"

Rem responded from beside him, but Encrid, already asleep, did not answer.

Seeing the sleeping Squad Leader, Rem tilted his head.

No matter how tired he was, he wasn't the kind of person to fall asleep so completely.

"He must be really exhausted."

Rem muttered. It seemed the Company Commander had really pushed the squad leader to his limits.

He didn't like it much.

The Fairy woman who was their Company Commander was a mysterious type whose intentions were never clear.

Why was she treating their Squad Leader so harshly without anyone's permission?

"Grrr."

As if reacting to the word "Esther", the panther in the Squad leader's arms let out a contented purr.

"Yeah, let's call you Esther."

Rem joked and closed his eyes as well.

The current warmth was satisfying.

He hated the cold. Absolutely detested it.

Did they say there were no duties for three days?

Rem had no intention of leaving his heated leather except to eat and relieve himself.

* * *

The lake panther, Esther, caught a familiar scent from the man named Encrid.

It was a scent related to spells, mysteries, and secrets.

In truth, if investigated deeply, it was closer to a curse.

'It only lingered on the surface.'

The mystery, called a curse, had left its trace around Encrid without exerting any power.

From her experience, it seemed like a spell trap had been triggered.

It activated, but it didn't affect him.

She had an idea why the curse only lingered without taking hold.

Of course, it was just a guess. In her current form, she couldn't prove anything.

She wanted to know more, to dig deeper, but now was not the time.

To be precise, it wasn't something to be pursued.

Savoring the scent of the spell, she absorbed the energy lingering around Encrid, which had not affected him but remained on the surface.

The malevolent intent and will that could be called a curse had already dissipated, leaving only pure energy and mana.

Esther savored it.

It was a delightful scent. It had been a long time since she had tasted a part of the spell world.

During this, she projected herself into the man's dream, who was about to name her without her consent.

"My name is Esther."

She conveyed her name properly. She couldn't let it slide.

In the world of spells, names held special significance.

Especially since her current state was not good.

Receiving a new name in her current form would deepen the curse.

So, she had to reveal her true name.

That's why she appeared in the man's dream, despite the effort it took.

Perhaps thanks to the mana remaining on Encrid and projecting her image into his dream.

For a brief moment, Esther regained her original form.

Naked, in the arms of the man she had chosen.

"Hmm."

The man held her tightly. Esther's face turned bright red since she had never allowed anyone so close before.

But no one saw it.

The man's firm chest muscles were right in front of her face.

Esther let out a thin breath, staying completely still. She wasn't in a position to cause a commotion.

Her original form had returned only for a very brief moment.

The man's eyelids slowly lifted. His eyes were still sleepy, not fully focused. The moment she met his gaze, Esther was so startled she forgot to breathe.

"Huh?"

The man looked at her with a dazed expression, closed his eyes gently, then opened them again. His eyes were still sleepy.

In that moment, Esther transformed back into her panther form. It was the mystery of magic.

The man, who had opened his eyes again, closed them and fell back asleep.

"Esther, Esther."

The man mumbled her name in his sleep.

He probably won't remember, right?

She was relieved to have turned back into a panther. Although technically, it wasn't the first time she had seen this man, being naked in his arms was something she didn't want to imagine.

She then regretted it.

'Thank goodness for the curse.' she thought.

It wasn't something she wanted to think about even by accident.

But this was her first time being held in a man's arms like this.

The panther considered pushing the man away but stayed still.

The scent of mana lingering on the man's body enticed her.

She convinced herself it was because of the mana and snuggled deeper into his chest.

Just as Encrid felt the warmth of the panther.

The panther also felt Encrid's warmth.

She had regained enough strength to briefly find her true form.

Now, even as a panther, she could move around a bit more.

It would still take some time to fully regain her form.

'Soon.'

It was just a matter of time.

Staying close to this man named Encrid made it possible. Otherwise, she wouldn't have sought him out in the first place.

'I do like his face.'

From her perspective, Encrid was a rare handsome man.

Of course, Esther didn't think that was the important part.

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