CHAPTER 71

"That body, now it's finally something worth looking at, brother."

"At this level, your basics aren't bad."

"You won't die to just any blind sword. Your responses aren't bad. That's about it."

"Heh, now it feels like it might be worth sparring with you. Is The Heart of the Beast ripening?"

Each squad member had something to say.

There was no need to mull over it, they were all saying his skills had improved.

To Encrid, improving his skills had a very special meaning in his life.

It was the thread that would continue his dreams, the moonlight that illuminated the dark night, and the dawn that brought the morning.

A ray of light had seeped into his faded and torn dreams.

This single ray of light became the foundation to stand his dream back up again.

A knight is a name completed through the accumulation of honor and skill.

Encrid didn't just want to become a mercenary or warrior of knight level; he wanted to become a knight.

If asked why, he found it hard to answer.

There was a tickling sensation in his chest. It just didn't come out easily.

If he were to lie, he could say something, but he disliked that as well.

In this regard, Encrid was a straightforward person.

The irrationalities he saw during his mercenary days also played a part in keeping his dream alive.

But that wasn't the whole reason.

Why is a dream a dream?

'Simply because you long for it.'

He wanted to hear someone's cheers.

He enjoyed the time spent honing his swordsmanship.

He liked the time spent chatting with those around him.

In the past, he wanted to meet those who had ignored and cast him aside and show them how he had changed.

It's a tangled and mixed web of desires.

The human heart is not simple.

For Encrid, this collection of desires converged into two words.

'Knight.'

It's his dream.

Even if his skills were still lacking and he had a long way to go.

If a path to his dream existed, he wanted to walk it.

Therefore, accumulating honor was also something he had to do.

He also wanted to test it.

'How far will my sword reach?'

Sparring was just with squad members all day.

In battle, he had fought and won against Mitch Hurrier, he had gone through the promotion test, and had even defeated a half-blood Fairy assassin, but he was different now from then.

Encrid clenched and unclenched his hand.

'I want to fight.'

He wanted to have a time where he could wield his sword to prove himself.

He had become a high-ranking soldier in the soldier ranking system.

However, even within the high-ranking rank, there were variations.

The desire for victory and confidence that came with improved skills.

It was the desire to confirm his skills through real combat.

It was at such a time that the commission came in.

Moreover, the Company Commander was coming along. It wouldn't be an easy task.

'But why, why is the Company Commander coming personally?'

Encrid's question lingered.

Wouldn't others have the same question?

The Company Commander was simply stopping by on her way, but it seemed odd to the other squad leaders.

Especially to the 4th Squad leader, Encrid's direct superior, who found the situation quite peculiar.

Though it was just a coincidence, some people couldn't see coincidences as mere coincidences.

* * *

The Border Guard's standing army often lent their strength to the citizens and merchant guilds within the city.

This practice stemmed from one of the two major policies established by Naurillia.

One was the soldier ranking system.

The other was the soldier mercenary system.

Instead of mercenaries, soldiers were tasked with carrying out missions, and along with the ranking system, it was one of the kingdom's successful policies.

"If it's the Border Guard's standing army, they're trustworthy."

This phrase was commonly heard.

The soldier mercenary system, where soldiers performed missions instead of mercenaries, naturally gained the support of the citizens and merchant guilds.

Mercenaries were rough and rugged, but soldiers were less so. Like any disciplined unit, they faithfully followed orders.

Additionally, the cost was cheaper compared to large mercenary guilds.

"Isn't it natural to require escorts for city security? Demanding Krona for every little thing seems excessive, doesn't it?"

Occasionally, a grumbling merchant guild leader would say this.

But once they used the escort soldiers even once, they fell silent.

The Border Guard's standing army engaged in localized battles twice a year.

They were a unit from a military city close to the front lines.

Naturally, those who survived the frequent life-and-death battles were highly skilled, and the quality of the standing army soldiers was uniformly high.

Cost, skill, safety.

Due to these three reasons, satisfaction was high, and the policy was deemed a success.

The Company Commander taking on the mission was one such case.

'Why personally?'

Everyone had this thought.

This was not a task that required the Company Commander's intervention.

The squad leaders also had eyes and ears. Although they kept their mouths shut to maintain decorum, they knew their Company Commander was not of average skill.

'Isn't she comparable to the Frontier Defense Commander?'

The Frontier Defense Commander was the strongest in the Border Guard, excluding the battalion commander.

'He could take on the heavy infantry Company Commander.'

The Fairy Company Commander had already proven his combat prowess in battle.

"I'll take on this mission."

So the Fairy Company Commander is taking on a mission.

If a superior officer steps up to handle it, what can you say?

You just have to say okay.

"Why do you insist on going yourself?"

The 4th Platoon leader asked.

"I'll be taking that Troublemaker Squad Leader."

That was the answer.

For one mission, it's not a big deal.

The issue was with the person being taken along.

The Spell Breaker, high-ranking soldier Encrid.

The 4th Squad leader had reached his position purely by being perceptive.

As the Fairy Company Commander departed, the 4th squad leader racked his brain, trying to recall the past.

Perception is based on information. Delayed understanding of the surrounding situation negatively impacts promotion.

For the sake of his future, he diligently recalled his memories.

'Didn't they say she went to see him at the infirmary?'

The Fairy Company Commander had gone to see Encrid in person.

That was right after he was appointed.

She went out of his way to visit the infirmary.

After that, she had several private meetings with Encrid.

There were hardly any situations where she met with other squad leaders privately.

It was fortunate if they even got a proper answer from him.

The Company Commander even got involved in Encrid's promotion battle.

The 4th Squad Leader saw that scene.

'It was when he was fighting the Frontier Defense member.'

At that time, it looked to the 4th Squad leader as if the Company Commander intervened to protect Encrid, who was in danger.

Additionally, on a snowy day, the Company Commander specifically ordered only the Troublemaker Squad out.

They returned in the morning after all the snow was cleared.

'They even brought back thermal leather.'

What had they been doing?

He only mentioned it was a classified operation. The details were reported directly to the Company Commander, so he didn't know.

He also heard that the Company Commander and Encrid sparred in the private training ground.

Why did that happen?

The infirmary, private meetings, the promotion battle, the operation on the snowy day, the sparring, and now this mission.

All the information mixed together and formed a conclusion in his mind.

The 4th Platoon Leader was getting goosebumps from his own deduction. Of course, it was all a misunderstanding, a series of foolish thoughts, but he was deeply convinced by his own theory.

Thus, a thought naturally arose.

'Could it be, the two of them?'

The Platoon leader imagined the Fairy Company Commander and the Troublemaker Squad Leader side by side.

They seemed to fit together better than he expected.

"Nah, it can't be."

Despite the strong conviction that gave him goosebumps, he muttered to himself.

"What do you mean, sir?"

A subordinate next to him asked. It was during a boring guard duty.

The 4th Platoon leader cautiously shared his guess.

If it had been dismissed as nonsense, that would have been the end of it.

"…Wow."

The subordinate's reaction was peculiar. His pupils trembled.

He seemed shocked as well.

The Border Guard wasn't a small unit, but rumors spread quickly.

Especially certain types of rumors, which traveled faster than winged horses.

Within the unit, there were idle people, particularly the women managing the baths and preparing meals, who loved this kind of gossip.

Through them, the rumor gained wings of light and quickly spread throughout the unit.

In less than a day, everyone knew about it.

* * *

"Squad Leader! I heard you're going to be a father soon! Is it true?"

Krais asked as he entered the unit three days later.

Where had it all gone wrong?

Encrid thought about it but couldn't figure it out.

The rumor had already spread.

At Krais' words, Rem clutched his stomach, laughing hysterically.

He laughed so hard that his thermal leather shifted, revealing his bare feet.

"Heh heh, yeah, it's true.He's going to be a dad. Did you hear about the mother too, Big Eyes?"

"Well, yes, I heard the rumor and thought it was exaggerated. I figured the baby part was a stretch, but when did the Company Commander seduce you? You're something else, our Squad Leader."

When Krais gave a thumbs-up, Encrid grabbed his thumb and pushed it back down.

"It's a misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding?"

"Who started this strange rumor?"

The 4th Platoon leader had, but Encrid didn't know that.

Krais, who had recently become adept at handling various information, didn't know either.

It wasn't impossible to find the source of the rumor if they set their mind to it, but it wasn't necessary.

Their lives weren't being threatened.

"Hmm, it's not a bad idea. If you keep her as a partner and have her as a swordsmanship teacher."

Ragna chimed in.

What's in that guy's head?

Sometimes he seemed worse than Rem.

Was he suggesting marriage as a way to improve swordsmanship?

"Heh heh, kee hee hee."

Next to them, Rem was laughing non-stop, now producing a sound similar to a beast's cry.

"Don't get too attached. It'll be tough if she dumps you later."

That was Jaxon, folding his clothes on the side.

'Is it a given that I'll be dumped?'

Wasn't the premise seriously wrong?

"Brother, blessings to you."

Everyone knew it was a joke.

They all knew Encrid's daily schedule.

He was too busy to form a relationship with anyone.

"Let's not talk about it."

It was just a baseless rumor. Thinking that, he reached out to Esther.

Hiss!

Today, Esther refused his touch.

"I'm not Krais."

Encrid said, feeling wronged, but Esther just glared at him fiercely and lay down on the thermal leather.

She'd been cuddling with him all day, so why the sudden change?

"Looks like she's jealous. You should comfort her."

Rem commented from the side, clutching his stomach and laughing madly again.

Rem was indeed a crazy guy.

"Ha, thanks for the laugh. So, when are we leaving?"

"Where to?"

"The escort mission. You said you only need to take one person."

"So?"

"Of course, you should take me."

Rem said, half rising and flapping his leather.

He proudly pointed at himself with his thumb.

The thermal leather flapped widely from Rem's shoulder before draping over him like a cloak.

"Are you doing this because I teased you? Let's be realistic. Squad leader, that ice-cold guy Jaxon? He'd go berserk if the escort made even one sarcastic remark. Do you want to see a sneaky wildcat claw the escort?"

And that comes out of your mouth?

Encrid was taken aback, but his expression remained unchanged.

It was an attitude that said, "Say whatever you want."

"Lazybones won't care."

Ragna usually doesn't volunteer for missions unless he has to.

"So you're going to take Big Eyes? It's not like you're going to increase the number of people you need to escort."

That's true.

Krais was never an option in the first place.

"And Chunky, well, he's usable. But what if he starts muttering prayers next to the escort target? What if he does it all day? I don't think the escort target would appreciate that."

Chunky referred to Audin. Rem, that guy, despite being an immigrant from the western frontier, had a way with words that was incredibly smooth.

He made it sound like the only option left was himself.

But

'You're the biggest problem.'

Why did he assault his superior?

Because of his temper.

If he had to protect the escort target by beating them up, then sure, Rem might be fine. He could be fine.

But what if he can't beat them up?

What if the escort target had even a slightly difficult personality?

He couldn't put Rem with the escort target.

Disaster would be expected within half a day, if not sooner.

If he wanted to avoid paying penalties rather than earn merit from the mission, Rem was the number one to avoid.

"You can't. Absolutely not."

There was no need to catch his breath; he spoke decisively.

"...Wow, I'm hurt right now. Especially by the 'absolutely' part. What are you going to do about this? Leaving such a scar on a grown man's heart?"

"Still no."

"I'm going to go rogue."

He ignored him. Rem always spouted strange things as if his head was filled with pebbles.

He looked around the unit.

"If you insist."

Ragna said, making eye contact. Ridiculous. If he took Ragna along, it would be a miracle if he didn't just lay down and sleep instead of actually escorting.

It was tiring enough to wake that guy up in the morning.

'Can't send him alone anywhere.'

He would get lost.

Ragna had an unbelievably terrible sense of direction.

The remaining choices were two: Audin and Jaxon.

There wasn't much to think about, so he spoke.

"Alright, I've decided on you."

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