Chapter 343 - Are You Enjoying This?
'Am I falling behind?'
Shinar felt a sense of urgency, a feeling brought on by Enkrid's growth.
Does the outcome matter? Not really. However, if this continues, she wouldn't be able to provide much enjoyment to the man in front of her.
'Live by the sword.'
What is the best gift for someone striving to become a knight?
What makes the author's heart race the most?
It certainly isn't supreme beauty. That much was clear. She couldn't sway the author's heart with the charm of the opposite sex.
So, what is it?
'The sword.'
It's something that can be replaced with fighting, skill, and ability.
Naturally, Shinar had a hidden move as well. However, she hadn't intended to use it just yet.
Fairies grow by absorbing the forest's essence, and with proper training, they can cultivate the essence of trees within their bodies once they reach a certain level.
Normally, it would take centuries to gradually accumulate. That's the default for fairies.
However, Shinar was not a typical fairy.
She had talent.
The ability to absorb and cultivate the essence itself.
She could store it within her body and use it when necessary.
It was her hidden move.
Shinar decided to use this secret. She wanted to see the surprised look on Enkrid's face as he reveled in the rush of energy.
Why?
That wasn't important.
'Ah, this is fun.'
This was a new experience for Shinar.
Her heart raced. Excitement surged. The moment she could sense the shift in the other's emotions, it was clear to her what she was feeling.
Joy.
Fun.
And that made the hairs on her skin stand on end.
'Are you having fun?'
She asked herself this in her mind. Enkrid's whole body responded. Watching that was pure joy.
Control your emotions.
She had heard this ever since she first became aware of her surroundings.
The fairy species could feel the emotions of others directly without filters, which often led to an emotional tendency to be easily swayed.
It was a downside to being highly sensitive.
Once she realized there was a problem, the solution was obvious.
Fairies had dealt with it in their own way.
They confronted the problem and solved it.
As a result, fairies also went through a process called heart training.
They learned how to manage and control their emotions.
No matter what, they would maintain a calm demeanor.
In a way, it resembled the heart of a beast.
And thus, they controlled their hearts, their bodies, and their emotions. Shinar had gone through this process, which is why she could stand here now.
For a Frog to leave its territory, it was a matter of not letting the heart flare. For a fairy, it was about controlling one's body and mind.
The sword clashed, and the sweat flowed. Enkrid's face, dripping with sweat, appeared.
His dark hair and blue eyes curved gently.
His eyes, shaped like crescents, seemed to emit light. It was a little after noon.
The sunlight of early spring bathed his hair, casting long shadows and creating a soft shade on his left cheek.
Watching this, the scenery seemed to radiate some strange energy.
Shinar, with her sensitive senses, saw, smelled, and felt all of it.
Fairies were born with stunning looks.
Symmetry in their eyes, eyebrows, and the nose that divided their faces made others fall into infatuation.
The term "unearthly beauty" existed for a reason.
Fairies were beings whose appearance surpassed that of humans.
Though occasionally some may not conform to the ideal, most fairies looked as expected.
Shinar had been born a fairy, and she had seen such beings countless times around her.
'If I just look at his face, I wouldn't know.'
But the vibrant aura of the man around her commanded attention. It was something she had felt many times, but now Shinar's attitude was different.
It wasn't a resolution or a determination. It was a natural flow.
She would swing the sword, driven by emotion, not control.
And that was exactly what she did. She acted on her emotions, not on restraint.
Instinct or sixth sense.
A strange sensation swept down the back of Enkrid's neck.
He felt a chill and the hairs on his skin stand up.
It was as if the Grim Reaper had come closer, whispering in his ear.
Everything he saw, heard, and felt blurred into the realm of his instincts.
He felt a new perspective, as if his body was being viewed from above.
Enkrid saw another blade aimed at his back.
It was after he perceived it that he acted.
He twisted his body, pivoting on his right foot while drawing his Gladius with his left hand.
As he unsheathed the sword, he twisted his wrist to block with the edge.
Thunk.
It wasn't heavy, but he felt a stab-like pressure.
In an instant, the Shinar he had seen just a moment ago was gone.
His hairs stood up again.
As his mind raced, Enkrid knew what he had to do. No, he felt it.
It was time to pull out an instinctual answer.
He hurled the Gladius, aiming for the direction that gave off a chilling vibe.
Wham.
As the sword flew straight, sparks erupted from it.
Ting-ting!
Without a moment's hesitation, the sparks traced a wide arc. The sparks were meant for stabbing, so he didn't expect to be able to cut, but this attack would definitely deliver a surprising blow.
Indeed, that was the case.
Shinar wasn't flustered, but she acknowledged that Enkrid's strike was a stroke of creativity.
She met his blade with hers, causing a sharp sound to ring out.
Chiriri-ring!
Sparks flew as the blades collided.
Enkrid released the spark from his hand.
Then, with both hands, he grasped his silver longsword.
Huff.
He briefly steadied his breath.
Raising his senses to their peak, he focused all his attention into one point.
For some reason, there was a sword in front of him and another behind him.
Both were real, physical swords.
Was it a trick of the Will?
It didn't seem like it. It didn't feel like it either.
Enkrid brought his sword down, aiming at Shinar.
Shinar lifted her sword to meet the blow, but her entire body faded like a mirage.
Then, from both sides, the blades struck.
A high-speed movement?
No. They were real, tangible strikes.
A spell? Some form of magic?
There was no time to think.
As soon as Enkrid struck, he leaped forward and rolled.
Lines appeared on the ground where he had stood.
Shinar stopped wielding her sword.
Instead, she stood still, silently catching her breath.
She remained like that, her gaze fixed on Enkrid, who had not relaxed his posture.
"What did you do?"
After the roll, Enkrid knelt on one knee, holding his sword, which reflected the sunlight.
He hadn't relaxed his combat stance. Even just the posture and the sharpness of the blade made him seem threatening. But to the fairy's eyes and judgment, that was far from the ordinary.
"Are you proposing here?"
What was that supposed to mean?
Enkrid quickly realized he was still kneeling on one knee.
"I'm saying I can still fight."
"Is that so?"
The fairy replied without a smile.
By now, more people had gathered to watch.
Guests who came just to see Enkrid clash swords, from Rem, Audin, and Ragna, to Dunbakel and Teresa, all of them were drawn in by the spectacle.
What had caught the Madmen Unit's attention?
It was Shinar's display of skill.
Her techniques and artistry were extraordinary.
Even Ragna, who had seen many things, thought that it was something out of the ordinary.
Did all fairies fight like that?
He'd once wandered around, joining with fairy swordsmen, but none were as impressive as Shinar.
The most memorable of them had been a dual-wielding fairy who always aimed for the vital spots.
But Shinar was far more dangerous than that one.
Despite being in front of him, it seemed as if the blades were coming from behind him.
How could that be possible?
Was it because of her precision and finesse?
No, that was merely a trait of fairy swordsmanship.
But still, Enkrid had seen Shinar wield her sword in the air, and it was as if the strikes came from behind him.
Rem narrowed his eyes.
What had that fairy just done?
Audin watched with a smile, amused.
"Magic?"
Dunbakel muttered to herself.
"No," Teresa answered. Having faced many magicians, she could tell it wasn't magic.
Shinar, despite hearing their words, tilted her head slightly and gazed at Enkrid.
A faint smile, almost unnoticed, crept onto her face.
It was the first time Enkrid had seen such a smile from a fairy.
With that small smile, she spoke.
"Are you enjoying this?"
The gentle question.
The sunlight, the dust, the mild air.
Feeling all that, Enkrid nodded.
Of course, he was enjoying it. It was the first time he had encountered such a technique. He didn't even understand it fully yet.
The thought of unraveling the principle behind it thrilled him.
The hairs on his body were still standing on end.
Enkrid stood up.
"More than anything."
"Then fighting with me must be the most enjoyable thing for you."
It was an unexpected remark, one that even Enkrid couldn't respond to right away.
Most enjoyable?
As the conversation flowed, everyone took a moment to think.
It was brief, but enough time passed.
Then, from behind Shinar, there was a heavy thunk sound.
Thunk.
It was a sound that naturally drew everyone's attention.
It came from behind Enkrid. Audin had made a quick fist motion.
"Commander, have you grasped the trick of close-range detonations? Once you get the hang of it, it can be quite fun. There's no greater joy than learning and mastering something."
Hmm?
Enkrid's thoughts briefly halted.
What on earth was he talking about?
Audin wasn't finished.
Next to him, Ragna swung his sword.
Whoosh, whoosh.
"A fast and heavy sword."
It was a blade imbued with Will. That wasn't a sword you could just learn by being taught.
Enkrid understood that better than anyone. He could see now that even when he was just starting out, he wouldn't have grasped it the way he could now.
If he wanted to become a knight, he couldn't just imitate—it had to become his own.
Having walked that path, he knew the truth of that better than anyone.
"Isn't there anything you can feel from just sparring, even if you can't learn it?"
Ragna spoke as though reading Enkrid's thoughts. He stopped his sword and his eyes shone with determination. His will was evident. It was as firm and unyielding as the blade he held.
Enkrid wondered for a moment whether it was the right time for such a show of spirit.
As he stared thoughtfully, the third party stepped forward.
"Boss, this is something I learned after seeing some crazy old man do it a while ago. It'd be good to learn it if you can."
Rem was wrapping a cord around his axe.
What are they doing?
Are they emphasizing how enjoyable sparring with them is?
"Wasn't fighting the wandering Teresa fun then?"
Teresa asked, with Dunbakel spinning her shoulders in a gesture of readiness, clearly ready to jump into the fray.
It seemed like everyone was silently protesting, and Enkrid couldn't help but chuckle under his breath.
Why even say anything?
Even though Shinar had brought about a shiver of excitement, would that make him lose interest in sparring with these people?
It was said that a hundred people bring a hundred different colors.
Enkrid was thrilled just by learning or experiencing anything.
So there was no reason to be bothered by their reactions.
Enkrid chuckled again.
And that's when it happened.
"What? Do I have to stand in line to talk to Commander Enki?"
Many had gathered to watch the sparring. Mercenaries who were skilled with swords, soldiers, and more.
Among them, there was also Bell and Vengeance.
Their voices reached Enkrid's ears, and he turned his head towards the sound.
It was a familiar voice.
"Have you been well?"
Well-groomed beard and hair—evidence of a professional touch.
His attire, different from the guards', also caught the eye.
With a short cane in hand, the man stepped forward from among the soldiers.
It was Marcus Baisar, the former lord of the estate.
The way he raised his cane made it look like he was visiting a neighbor's house for a casual chat, but the guards behind him exuded an imposing aura.
Everyone had dust on their shoulders. It was clear they had arrived straight from the road, without even stopping to clean up.
Enkrid gave a military salute to Marcus in return.
"Won't you offer us a cup of tea? Is it your habit to leave your guests standing outside?"
Marcus spoke with a grin, and Enkrid thought it would be more appropriate for the lord to be offering the tea.
But then again, he couldn't turn him away.
Looking at Marcus's appearance, it seemed like he had arrived here straight from the road, without even visiting the lord after coming into the city.
"Are you really not going to offer me tea?"
Marcus pressed again, his tone playful.
Enkrid nodded.
It was time to end the sparring.
No one seemed disappointed. Enkrid himself needed time to reflect on what Shinar had just shown him.
'A sword strike that feels real but is physically impossible.'
How is that possible? What's the principle behind it?
He needed time to ponder and figure it out.
"It's over now."
Rem casually declared, summarizing the situation with a single sentence.
Shinar, turning away with an indifferent expression, remarked, "Once a troublemaker. Always a troublemaker."
Whether she truly thought that or not, Enkrid couldn't tell just by her face.
But, she did step back without resistance.
Marcus, with a smile on his face, made Enkrid think.
That was an impeccable timing.
"Shall we go?"
There was no tea to be found in the barracks. Enkrid headed toward the mess hall.
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