CHAPTER 14

"Hey,You!Come here!"

"Your voice is loud. This is the infirmatory."

"What do you want, you brat."

Growling aside, even a rough beast poses no threat when it's out of reach.

"It seems our fates are intertwined. The first time we met was in the lower village, right?"

It was a cursed fate. A fate that always seemed to collide unexpectedly.

"Where does this unlucky bastard pretend to be friendly?"

The one who first spoke was Vengeance.

Encrid didn't bother to argue about that.

He wasn't narrow-minded enough to care about such things.

"Well then."

Instead, he turned his body. Jaxon's ointment worked wonders.

Even moving like this, he hardly felt any pain.

"What are you doing?"

"You told me not to pretend to be friendly, so I'm pretending not to know."

"Is this guy joking?"

Vengeance shouted angrily.

If he had known it was a joke, there would have been no need to get angry.

But, you know.

"Maybe it's because I'm usually among such stern squad members."

Seeing Vengeance after a long time made him almost cute.

Watching Rem and Jaxon and the other squad members argue often felt like it was shortening his lifespan.

"Oh, you noticed. Indeed,Platoon leader, the future of the Cyprus Battalion."

"You, you!"

Vengeance, with veins bulging on his forehead, threw his boot.

Encrid promptly caught them.

"A gift?"

"I'll kill you, you bastard!"

Rem had said something like that once.

He was good at reading people himsfairy, but...

"I don't really want to get involved with a squad leader who just opens his mouth recklessly."

Encrid said casually, holding the boots with a calm expression.

Vengeance snorted as he watched him.

And then...

"Hahaha!"

A soldier who had been relentless in passing the time laughed loudly, looking into the air.

It was a laugh that seemed to suggest he was about to go crazy with joy.

At the sound of that laughter, Vengeance's stern gaze quickly turned away.

The blonde man, whose laughter had brought tears to his eyes, wiped them away with a finger bent outward.

"No, a gift? Really? I couldn't bear it anymore. I was pretending not to know from the start. Whew."

Crackle.

Encrid thought Vengeance's molars might break before he turned forty.

Continuously grinding molars isn't good for the gums either.

He debated whether to mention this.

If he said a little more, he might not be able to bear his anger, and he'd be recorded as a dead soldier with blood rushing to his head.

"Your affiliation?"

Vengeance asked calmly.

Instead of swearing at his opponent, he asked about his affiliation.

"Me? Oh, just a passing soldier."

Oh?

Encrid secretly admired his opponent's ambition.

He himsfairy might be a squad leader.

But the other seemed to be just an ordinary soldier.

Yet with that kind of attitude.

However, saying that made it feel like he was actually hiding his affiliation and position.

Vengeance wasn't sure what to make of it either.

"You can't reveal your affiliation?"

"Yeah, sort of. But I really am just a soldier. I forgot my unit."

Calmly, Encrid saw a noble demeanor in the blonde man.

If the scoundrel who forgets his own unit isn't noble...

"He deserves a good beating."

There would be nothing left to say even if he were beaten to death.

So, the attitude he showed now was dignity.

Scratch, scratch.

Vengeance couldn't say or do anything.

"But right now, you shouldn't be looking at me like that. You should probably look behind."

Encrid and Vengeance had been looking towards the blonde man.

So, both turned their heads back.

There was someone behind them.

'When?'

He couldn't say his instincts were exceptional.

But he had a sense on the battlefield.

There was some intuition, but right now he didn't know who was behind him.

He didn't even hear it.

"Here? Is this where the Fourth-Fourth Squad Leader is?"

It was a woman, and generally, her body's lines were thinner than those of humans. Her eyes were sharp and her ears of a larger type.

She was a fairy.

She stared directly at the blonde man and spoke.

Seeing her natural tone, it was clear she was a superior.

Encrid assessed the situation and raised his hand to speak.

"I am Squad Leader Encrid of the 4th Platoon, 4th Squad, of the 4th Company."

The fairy woman's gaze finally shifted away from the blonde man.

Then, a soldier guarding the entrance to the tent fluttered in and added further explanation.

"Yes, he's the squad leader under your command."

"A fairy?"

Apparently quite surprised, Vengeance finally reacted.

Ignoring his remark, the fairy turned her head without even moving an eyebrow.

"He's the 3rd Platoon leader in this company."

The soldier responsible for the duty barracks spoke without being asked.

The fairy woman's tone that followed was exceptionally dry.

Someone once said fairies symbolize grass and trees, but her voice was akin to the sands of the desert.

"Does the 2nd Platoon teach to mention one's race upon seeing a superior? I know I'm a fairy better than anyone."

'It's killing me."

Encrid saw innate grace and charisma in the fairy woman.

With a single word, he pressed down on her counterpart.

"Ah, n-n-no, not at all! I'm the 3rd Platoon leader, Benz, Vengeance!"

"Just one request."

"Yes!"

"Vengeance, Platoon Leader, while I'm around, I sincerely hope you keep that mouth shut. You don't need to respond to my request right now. If that mouth of yours opens, I might just want to stick a knife or a fist in your face.Is that clear?"

Encrid didn't explicitly mention that Vengeance's name was Vengeance.

Vengeance started to open his mouth but then clamped it shut with both hands.

"Well then, I heard you're leading an interesting squad."

The company commander's gaze returned to Encrid.

"Yes, thank you."

There was nothing good about standing out in the new company commander's eyes.

He replied succinctly.

During their subsequent conversation, Encrid felt a strange sensation.

'Why did this woman come here?'

That was the only irrelevant thought.

They might say she distinguished herself in battle.

If you look at Encrid as an individual, his performance is good.

He had dispatched enemy troops with piercing accuracy.

In the process, he had saved quite a few nearby comrades within arm's reach.

But if asked if that had an impact on the battlefield.

'Well,okay.'

He didn't think so.

Separate from his skills, Encrid had a keen eye for the battlefield.

"You survived encountering Frog?"

"Yes, I was lucky."

"Luck is also a skill. The goddess of luck doesn't often drop her coin."

"Yes, thank you."

Why go through such conversations like this?

Encrid couldn't fathom the other party's intentions at all.

Anyway, the fairy company commander, with eyes glowing green, spoke to him and Encrid responded dutifully.

Shortly after, the company commander turned away, saying, "Well, I'll expect more from you in the future."

Just before leaving, she glanced back once more.

This time, her gaze was directed at the blonde man.

"What's your name?"

"Uh, um, Krang."

Rolling his eyes and furrowing his brow as he said his name. Clearly.

'Clearly just made it up.'

That was the kind of name it was.

"I see."

The company commander replied nonchalantly and left the tent.

By then, Vengeance, who had barely been able to breathe properly, finally breathed deeply.

"Damn."

"Oh,Company Commander."

Upon hearing the curse, Vengeance jumped in surprise when Encrid spoke.

"Oh, it's just a passing soldier."

"This damn bastard."

For today, Vengeance, who had become 'Benz Vengeance,' as fiery as could be, vented his anger.

The blonde man who identified himsfairy as Kran laughed loudly again.

The soldier guarding the tent, wondering why these three were behaving like this, glanced over and slipped outside.

Encrid looked at Platoon Leader Vengeance and thought there would be no dull moments while he was here.

* * *

A review of the fight.

The direction to move forward.

Encrid focused on two things.

'To stab with all his might, but not to put all his heart into it.'

Not even a day passed before he found a lead, and his body was itching.

Still, he couldn't roll his body right now.

Because his side hurts, the only training he could do is the arm strength training.

Encrid trained his fingers and forearm muscles.

In some ways, it looked like a fool's deed.

'The body is the foundation of all skills.'

No matter how small a leaf is, it weighs, and even a drop of water can pierce the rock with time's help.

Therefore, the insignificant efforts now will be helpful in the future.

Encrid believed so and built his tower until now.

"You're working really hard."

It's Krang.

After the commander left, two days.

Except for a review of the fight, Encrid didn't do anything.

He devoted himself to rest.

Resting is important, too.

If something has changed,

Only a half-crazy soldier, who made excuses and forgot his affiliation, leaves my side.

"Why are you working so hard?"

Krang dropped a word to everyone.

Encrid was natural.

It was the same for Vengeance.

"I'm a platoon leader. I'm a senior!"

It was also a joke.

Seeing it, he didn't seem to be hurt and came here.

And it seemed like he was quite skilled.

He was not an ordinary person to see his footsteps seem to miss Vengeance on purpose.

"What?"

Since the opponent was a soldier,Encrid also spoke.

"They say I squeeze and hold hands every day. Besides that, I stare into space and wonder what thoughts I have, and why I've been squeezing and relaxing my hands so hard."

There were many things that he was curious about, even though he wasn't eight years old.

It wasn't that annoying.

'I'm bored too.'

Making fun of Vengeance's platoon leader was once or twice.

Casual conversations and having such a partner were good tools for overcoming boredom.

"This is grip strength training, and staring into space isn't spacing out. It's reviewing mistakes I made on the battlefield last time."

"So why do that?"

Why do that?

"So I won't die in the next battle."

"A soldier who goes that far to not mess up, I haven't seen."

"Then there are guys who've lived for a long time among those soldiers?"

"Well, quite a few?"

I guess he's lived looking at this.

Encrid thought from the start that the other party was playing a game with ordinary people.

But that doesn't mean there's any change.

Even if the other side wanted it, he could fit into things like this.

It's not like losing.

If you were going to be springing up in things like this, you'd be half crazy because of your talent for swordsmanship.

Encrid didn't do that.

Rather, there's a way to go.

He felt more satisfied with the joy of growth.

"I think I need to practice stabbing more."

The wholehearted effort needed training.

The Heart of the Beast remained a pillar for Encrid.

One step forward.

A step taken every day.

Even if today didn't repeat itself, nothing changed.

Of course, not everything stayed the same.

"What do you want to become?"

Krang asked.

It was similar to when Rem asked before.

Memories of that time came back.

'Why does that seem like such a distant past?'

Days that had already disappeared.

Days that vanished because he had died.

So the aspiration he casually expressed vanished just as casually.

If he were to speak of the future, of dreams...

'Would today disappear?'

No.

Even if dreams were silenced, devoured, torn apart by reality, traces remained.

Traces, yes, merely traces remained in his heart.

He had thought that way before.

But now, how is it?

'Are there only traces left?'

Encrid looked at his palm.

There were calluses that had formed and burst repeatedly, leaving his palm distorted and scarred.

The calluses, tough and ingrained at each joint of his fingers, would probably never disappear in his lifetime.

This was what he had hoped for.

'Is that really the case?'

Are there still only traces left?

He asked himself.

And he seeks an answer.

No, it won't be. He believes it isn't.

Ironically, even during those times when only traces remained, Encrid never gave up.

"A Knight."

A third-rate mercenary turned junior soldier.

Then a squad leader on that topic.

Nothing more than a squad leader.

A modest rank, insignificant skill.

Yet the words he uttered were at the peak of everyone's thoughts.

Vengeance tried to mockingly laugh from the side.

But Krang's response was quicker than that.

"Yeah. A knight."

It was strange. He should have laughed.

He had to.

Krang's attitude prevented that. It wasn't forced, but instinct said it shouldn't be done.

Just a calm tone, but weighty. It carried weight.

Krang earnestly accepted that whimsical dream. With all his might, he took it to heart.

He could listen to the act to this extent.

"Seeing you makes me feel like I understand how to live."

Krang said.

Encrid shrugged.

The strange air that filled the medical tent for a moment disappeared as suddenly as it appeared.

"Hah! A knight? You're funny!"

So Vengeance laughed heartily.

But it looked ridiculous.

Neither Encrid nor Krang bothered to respond to him.

"I am a superior."

Vengeance attempted a feeble rebellion.

Of course, it didn't fly.

* * *

Exactly one week.

Encrid's side no longer hurt.

'Thanks to the ointment?'

He recovered quickly.

As bedtime approached, Krang asked.

"Back to duty tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

Today was straightforward.

The returning bard praised Cyprus' praises right next to the infirmary from morning.

The soldier on duty for the medical tent was late for breakfast.

He also saw Krais during a light walk around noon.

Big Eye's complexion wasn't good.

Without saying anything, he walked away alone.

After that, nothing happened.

 Since the patients in the medical tent didn't keep watch, they had really rested well.

"Sleep well, Encrid."

"You too, Krang."

"Let's see when you get back, both of you."

Vengeance also greeted each other every day.

So Encrid closed his eyes and fell asleep.

And…

"Cyprus! Cyprus!"

He woke up to the bard's singing.

"Again today?"

The author, who tasted the flavor of money and became a bard on the battlefield, was heard singing around the barracks.

So, it meant he didn't stay in one place for more than two days.

Today, the singing should have been heard from a farther place.

Why mention two consecutive days here?

"Are you slacking off again? Why isn't breakfast served?"

Vengeance grumbled as he got up.

Encrid bristled at his words.

He had heard that complaint yesterday too.

Or exactly, he heard it in today's repetition.

"Was the soldier late for breakfast yesterday too?"

Encrid asked.

Vengeance stared at Encrid and chuckled before replying.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Yesterday, it was served on time."

Encrid sighed in frustration.

This confirmed it.

Today was a repeat.

It meant...

'I died in my sleep without anyone knowing.'