CHAPTER 81

After the appearance of the man named Mathis.

"Why is he the leader?"

This was followed by Pollid's foolish question.

"Because while we were spending time here, everything was already settled within the merchant guild. Ah, the inauguration ceremony will be held when we return."

Leona answered.

When Pollid's people began to notice the situation, Leona gestured to them.

"Come. I will accept you."

Although she didn't say this directly, it sounded no different to Encrid.

It was like saying, "Let's live together under the name of the merchant guild from now on."

Two people didn't move.

A man with a plain impression and the swordsman who told Encrid to lay down his sword.

Oh, Pollid also remained.

He knelt down with a thud. He looked as if his legs had given out.

"Why? I'm the son. Aren't all the people of the guild my father's people?"

Why indeed? Seeing his actions, it was doubtful if the people who sided with Pollid had any intelligence.

Encrid's gaze was fixed on the remaining two.

It seemed they were the ones who had schemed.

They didn't seem to be in any particular crisis. Even though everyone else had turned away, they remained calm.

"It's over."

The swordsman spoke.

"Indeed."

The man with the plain impression replied. They both ignored Pollid.

"I can't accept this! What is this! I'm the son!"

Pollid shouted and tried to approach Leona, but Mathis blocked his way.

"If you come any closer, I'll cut you down. Son of the former guild leader."

Harsh.

That settled the situation.

The two, who seemed to have schemed from Encrid's perspective, retreated.

Pollid, overwhelmed by despair and frustration, showed in real-time how a person in panic behaves.

Kneeling on the ground with a thud, he started drooling.

The kid seemed really shocked.

The passing merchants, city traders, soldiers, and even the beggars near the city gates watched them.

The guards, unsure of what to do, looked troubled, so Leona stepped forward.

"Take him away. We can't let the former guild leader's son die drooling on the street."

"Yes."

At Mathis's gesture, someone came in and dragged Pollid out.

The guards even cleared the way for them to leave.

"Wait a moment."

Leona spoke to Mathis and then approached Encrid.

"Did you give Carmen's stiletto to your subordinate?"

Her tone felt like that of someone who gave a gift to a woman only to have it handed to someone else. Encrid couldn't pinpoint it exactly, but it made him a bit uncomfortable.

"…He wanted it a lot. Yes, I gave it to him."

Looking back, he saw Jaxon standing silently.

When he first gave the stiletto, Jaxon's reaction wasn't typical.

Encrid didn't expect him to be so moved to the point of tears, but he was simply indifferent.

He just took the stiletto and muttered one sentence.

"Why continue training the senses, how can you dodge a dagger flying from behind without seeing it?"

For some, it was nonsense, for others, it was the long-awaited answer.

"That's what we'll learn next."

That one sentence was enough. Jaxon knew how to make a deal.

"I see."

Leona nodded with a bright smile. Even seeing her smile made him feel like he owed her something.

She was truly a peculiar woman.

She looked at Encrid's face and spoke again.

"I am a merchant, and a trade starts with knowing what the other party wants. You gave a high-value item to your subordinate and didn't even glance at the two beautiful women present."

Leona had to spend time with the Border Guard.

In that spare time, she observed the desirable counterpart.

What does this man really want?

He didn't bat an eye at items as valuable as treasure.

Instead, he looked slightly tired as he explained the origin of the dagger to his subordinate.

It wasn't that he had no greed, but he didn't seem like a man who would wallow in his desires.

Leona knew well the strengths of her appearance. That's why she showed some subtle seductive gestures.

"There is a lot of gossip about women around him. Be careful."

There was also a Fairy who interrupted her halfway.

Even when she saw an opening and approached, Encrid didn't fall for it.

'What does this man desire?'

From then on, her pride as a merchant also began to stir.

What is a merchant? A person who makes deals happen.

Shepherds of the Wilderness, Black Leather Guild, Glacier Rangers.

They are all closed groups. A merchant is someone who opens trade with such groups. That's Rockfreed.

Leona loved Rockfreed and was proud of it.

Her counterpart was just a mere soldier, that's his status.

'I'm curious.'

She wanted him, but there were certain limits.

Now her pride was also at stake.

Leona began to observe him.

It was only then that she saw it.

The basics of a trade: what the other party desires.

'It wasn't material things.'

The Carmen Collection was a price shown to swallow up the guild.

While everyone's attention was on the dagger and the group launching a surprise attack, her resources were already controlling the internal affairs of the guild.

She also used it to see Encrid's greed, but it was a wrong guess.

Leona only realized after observing him.

What he wanted was the future.

His own future. Better swordsmanship, skills, and strength.

So she brought Mathis in.

Rockfreed Guild's best warrior and a former city-level mercenary famous as a guard captain.

"How about training your sword under Mathis? Growing your future here?"

If being with strong people and honing his skills attracted him.

This was the answer.

Of course, it was a huge misunderstanding. Leona didn't know Encrid's squad members.

'He seems like a remarkable person.'

There was something Jaxon had told her while Leona was organizing the situation.

"If it's a small city, he's a competent enough figure. That's all it means."

Even unintentionally, just by showing his skills a few times, his name naturally spread in the city.

That's what a city-level skilled person was.

"How does he compare to Torres?"

"Based on the soldier ranking system, he is above elite, but not a knight."

Jaxon's evaluation was blunt.

Above elite but not a knight.

'I should say they are everywhere within the squad.'

Rem, Ragna, Jaxon, and Audin.

None of those four seemed likely to lose to Mathis.

Especially since they had already proven themselves with what they learned.

"That's why I'll decline."

That's the reason for the lack of hesitation in his response. For the first time, Leona failed to manage her expression.

"This is the first time I've missed out on something so desirable."

Encrid liked this savvy young woman, who was also a stunning beauty and the guild leader.

'Especially the fact that she doesn't make clumsy attempts just because she likes me.'

When you think about it, isn't it quite interesting?

One of the people he met during this incident told him to lay down his sword.

The other, because she desired him, asked him to stay by her side.

Contrasting evaluations.

"Is it absolutely necessary to keep me by your side?"

Encrid spoke up.

Since the goodwill the other party showed him didn't come across negatively, Encrid also treated her with goodwill.

Leona blinked at his words.

"That's true. The job is done. So, how about we be friends? Can you spend a day with a friend? What do you think?"

It wasn't about being friends, but rather a suggestion to maintain a pleasant relationship.

"…Pardon?"

"If you refuse this, a poor girl might be heartbroken here."

Who is the poor girl?

She had just become the owner of the Rockfreed guild.

"Mathis, can I stay in the city for just one more day?"

"As you wish."

Mathis stepped back.

"I suppose you need the squad's permission?"

Leona's next words were answered by the Company Commander instead of Encrid.

"As a reward for completing the mission, you are granted a one-day leave."

It was an unexpected answer.

"Why? Do you dislike it?"

Leona asked with a mischievous smile. It was suddenly clear how powerful her looks were.

Even with that expression, she looked cute.

The spider that swallowed the entire guild smiled cutely.

Thinking that, Encrid nodded.

"I don't dislike it."

He had met many instructors, but they all said the same thing.

Rest when you need to rest.

Swinging the sword day and night and overworking oneself was not the only answer. Encrid knew this well.

Above all, he felt an odd sense of debt in his heart and wanted to resolve it.

"Alright then."

Leona turned back to Mathis. Meanwhile, Jaxon approached, and Encrid spoke first upon seeing him.

"Don't spread any strange rumors."

"That's something you'd say to a barbarian. Do you think I would do that?"

Encrid felt fortunate once again that he had brought Jaxon.

If it had been Rem, even nonexistent stories would have spread.

"Well done, soldier."

The Company Commander, by not preventing Encrid from staying alone with Leona, confirmed that his previous remarks were just jokes.

"If you miss us, feel free to come back, soldier."

Yet, she couldn't resist adding another Fairy-style joke. Having heard it so often, it no longer felt awkward.

"Yes, I will."

When Encrid responded nonchalantly, Jaxon quietly spoke beside him.

"By any chance."

"By any chance?"

"If you have more of the Carmen Collection, use your charm to get it."

Is this guy joking, or is he serious?

It was harder to judge than the Fairy commander's jokes.

"It's a joke."

It was a relief to hear him say it was a joke.

Although, it seemed half-serious.

The Carmen Collection, he really didn't want it?

"I'll go ahead."

Jaxon and the Company Commander stepped back, and Leona, having finished her business, returned.

"Shall we go?"

After that, Encrid and Leona enjoyed some time together.

They wandered around the market, ate at a good restaurant Encrid knew well.

"This is really delicious."

She gave a thumbs-up after eating herbal pie and Vanessa's pumpkin soup.

Vanessa's pumpkin soup was a specialty of the inn known for having the best food among the four in the area.

"This is tasty too."

They laughed at Leona's jokes, and she giggled at Encrid's remarks.

It was a spontaneous time, but amusingly, it was quite enjoyable.

As the sun set, they had a drink or two.

"I had a great time."

Although they spent the night together, there was no physical intimacy.

"Alright. We're friends from today."

"Sure."

They became friends, chatted until morning, and then parted ways.

Encrid occasionally had a vacant expression, but it was clear that both had a good time.

* * *

"For some reason."

Mathis thought it was extremely rare.

Leona was a woman who didn't know how to rest. She was relentless, reliable, and highly capable.

If not, he wouldn't be here now.

In other words, Leona was on a different level compared to that fool, Pollid.

'That son of the former guild leader.'

It was only natural that there were rumors about him being a child picked up from somewhere, he was that foolish.

Leona had lived a life entirely different from Pollid's since childhood.

For her to be tied down by a man for just one day?

It was a rare occurrence.

Not that Mathis didn't respect her.

'The future of the guild is bright.'

Now, the Rockfreed guild would head towards a better path than it had in the past.

Mathis trusted Leona.

After a day of rest, the guild leader returned with a relieved expression.

"Let's go."

And so the guild headed on its way. They honored the former guild leader's last words about discussing succession.

They also took care of everything else.

Thus, Leona had swallowed everything whole. This was her answer.

The former guild leader had saved her and raised her.

By not killing Pollid, she was repaying his kindness.

Leona understood well that this was the true intent of the former guild leader's will.

She smiled as she recalled the previous night in the carriage on the way back.

'It was fun.'

How many times had she had a conversation without any gain?

It was quite uncharacteristic for her to chat without a purpose.

And yet.

'Encrid.'

The name of her counterpart lingered in her mind.

* * *

The man with the plain appearance and the swordsman with the rapier emerged from Pollid's group and headed outside.

No one tried to stop them. Although Mathis glared at them fiercely.

"Let them go."

Leona's single sentence ended it.

The two stepped out of the city gates.

Even though winter was coming to an end, it was a harsh journey for just the two of them.

Monsters and magical beasts could appear at any time.

But the two were not worried about such things.

"Why did you do that?"

The two belonged to the same group. They were part of the same nation.

Among them, the swordsman with the rapier was an exceptional talent. He wouldn't bat an eye at most monsters.

The man with the plain appearance knew the swordsman's indifferent nature, making this incident all the more curious.

Offering advice to a passerby, who could be considered an enemy, was strange.

"I felt it would be a waste not to."

Not everything in the world ends neatly.

Such things happen.

"I see."

The plain-looking man agreed. It was time to return.

Although they had failed in their scheme, they had gained something. They learned that the abilities of the next Rockfreed guild leader were exceptionally outstanding.

Information was always valuable.

* * *

Encrid returned to the squad in the morning.

"You seem very happy."

Rem greeted him as soon as he arrived.

He must have heard everything.

That was clear from his first words.

"Did you enjoy yourself?"

It was easy to misunderstand. Although he had only talked with Leona.

No matter how he answered, Rem would spout nonsense. That's the kind of guy he was.

Instead of answering, Encrid picked up his sword.

"A spar?"

"You tiresome man, let's do it."

Rem didn't question further and picked up his axe. He liked being Encrid's first sparring partner whenever he returned.

This time was no different.

Encrid faced Rem.

And he reflected on the day he spent with Leona.

It was an odd thing.

It was rest and a break.

You could say he completely forgot about the sword and relaxed.

He chatted with Leona all night.

It was a continuous conversation, a time of seemingly meaningless dialogue.

And yet, why did it feel like this?

'I feel like it will work.'

Spending time with Leona, Encrid felt a strange sensation. It would be accurate to say he sensed something.

Time didn't slow down, nor did his focus ignite into some change.

He just felt like it would work.

He felt like he could show it effortlessly.

The trajectory of the swinging sword, the step taken before that, the movement of his shoulder.

Everything blended together to present an answer.

What is speed?

He had pondered this since facing the swordsman with the rapier, and now he felt he could partially answer it, albeit imperfectly.

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