CHAPTER 56

"Think of it as stretching your muscles, brother."

Audin's barehanded training method focused on dividing and stretching each muscle of the body in detail.

"Ugh."

A groan escaped from Encrid's lips. The muscles behind his thighs felt like they were going to snap, but Audin intensified the pressure by climbing onto Encrid's bent back.

Encrid, now in a sitting position with his hands reaching for his toes, spoke.

"You're killing me."

"Is that a threat?"

"I mean, I'm dying."

His voice was barely a whisper. It really felt like his muscles were going to tear. A few more breaths like this, and he really would be!

When he was at his limit, Audin finally released his hands from Encrid's back.

"This is just the basics."

Audin repeated the word 'basics' several times.

He bent one leg inward to press against the hip muscles.

He grabbed a column with one hand, bent his waist halfway, and twisted his body.

Twisting, stretching, and squeezing the body.

Yes, squeezing.

There was no better word to describe it.

After wringing his body like a wet towel, he was drenched in sweat.

Wasn't this actually a method of torture?

If the basics were like this, what would the advanced course be like? Disassembling a person?

He had such miscellaneous thoughts, but to sum up, the effectiveness of the exercises Audin taught him was excellent.

It was painful while doing them, but once finished, his body felt much lighter.

Not only did he feel lighter, but his body also felt warm. His heart pounded, spreading warmth throughout his body, making the cold much more bearable.

"Eat well, rest well, and move well—it's the way to endure the cold, Squad Leader."

Audin said with a smile.

Encrid nodded. Training his body was part of his daily routine.

And physical pain made his mind sharper.

A sharp mind led him to thoughts. Repeating today, he recalled the assassin who had come to kill him.

'That skill.'

He hadn't even seen how the throwing knife was thrown.

Encrid was quite confident in his own throwing knife skills, but...

'It doesn't even compare.'

It was an excellent skill. Regardless, it was just a matter of preparing for it.

The first pattern was approaching and stabbing.

If that didn't work, they'd throw a throwing knife.

'Should I say the wall is thin and low?'

The ferryman of the Black River kept saying that a wall appeared before Encrid.

'If it's at this level.'

It was easy. That's what he thought. Hence, he was being so relaxed about it.

"Hey, look. Is this difficult? Is this?"

Rem, suddenly in high spirits, jumped out of bed and perfectly mimicked Encrid's movements.

There wasn't a single hitch; it was smooth. Seeing his fully stretched body, it was clear he had exceptional flexibility.

"Let's work on our flexibility, huh?"

This guy was annoyingly smug. No, he was always an annoying fellow.

"Is this difficult? Is this?"

Rem kept mocking, but Encrid ignored him cheerfully. With half-closed eyes, Ragna, who had been observing them, began to move.

He was also exceptionally talented in using his body.

To surpass a certain level of swordsmanship, one had to know how to properly use their body.

So Ragna, too, perfectly replicated the movements. Picking out and performing the actions Encrid struggled with, bending his waist while stretching his legs—Ragna was also an annoying type.

"Have you developed a hobby of twisting your body?"

Jaxon, who had just returned from a night out, entered and spoke. To him, it looked like a den of madmen.

Encrid, drenched in sweat, caught his breath.

In front of him, a grinning barbarian bent over, touching his toes.

And next to him, a lazybones was sitting with his legs split.

Had they all gone mad together?

"We're learning a training method to withstand the cold, brother."

Audin explained the situation. Jaxon, seemingly uninterested, moved to his spot, avoiding them.

As it was nearing the time for Encrid to go on duty, he stood up and, out of sheer curiosity, spoke.

The throwing dagger used by the assassin—it was a shape he had never seen before.

"Have you ever used a dagger like this? It's for throwing."

"What is it?"

"No."

"Never, brother."

He was describing a throwing knife without a handle.

Rem, Ragna, and Audin were speaking, and Big Eyes naturally stayed silent as he didn't know anything. Jaxon frowned and then relaxed his expression.

"Where did you see that? The one you're talking about?"

"I didn't see it."

He was about to go see it now.

"By any chance, was there a round groove near the handle?"

Jaxon asked without sitting down, holding his coat in his hand, ready to hang it up.

"Yes."

There was no need to recall. He had just been hit by that blade today.

There was a round groove at the end.

"Why are you asking about it?"

Rem asked as he got back into bed.

"I just heard about it somewhere."

Jaxon turned away, but from Encrid's bed, a blue-eyed black panther emerged.

The panther that had snuggled into his arms and slept last night had just woken up.

It was a creature that really loved beds and sleep.

Feeling cold, it shivered as soon as it got up, then stretched its body from front to back. Encrid stroked the panther's back from head to tail, and Jaxon's voice was heard.

"If possible, avoid it. It's a Whistling Knife."

"A Whistling Knife?"

It was a name he had never heard before.

"It's a nickname given because of the sound it makes when thrown, and it's a weapon commonly used for assassinations. It's difficult to handle, but if you meet someone who can use it properly, well, run."

Jaxon's tone was cold but kind, as always.

The content, however, was the problem.

Run away?

Just because the guy knew how to throw a knife?

Grrrr.

The panther purred contentedly as it was being stroked.

When Big Eyes tried to pet it, the panther quickly bared its fangs fiercely.

"Alright, alright. I got it."

It looked like it would bite if he got any closer.

At first, he worried that the panther might harm a squad member, but he quickly set those concerns aside.

No matter how agile the panther was, it couldn't do anything to Rem or the other squad members.

As long as Big Eyes was careful, there shouldn't be any problems. The panther appeared to be very intelligent.

After a few days, there were no issues.

Encrid gently stroked the panther's head and said, "Don't hate them too much. I'll be back after duty."

Encrid stood up.

"Continue the barehanded training exercises. It will be beneficial, brother."

He didn't specify how it would be beneficial, but it was easy to figure out.

What did Encrid always immerse himsfairy in?

The sword.

It was clear that it would help with his swordsmanship.

"That's not wrong," Rem nodded. Ragna and Jaxon nodded as well.

Everyone was attentive when it came to Encrid's matters.

It was quite remarkable. These people usually didn't care about much else.

Encrid stepped out of the barracks for his duty.

He thought it was a repetitive task and relatively easy, but Jaxon's words made him reconsider.

His mind was troubled.

"Avoid it? Run away?"

With his current skills?

Even if he fought head-on?

He should have asked about that.

No, he could find out by trying it now.

The cost would be his life and today, but he would also gain something.

It wouldn't be regrettable.

Despite facing death countless times, Encrid never wasted a single day.

Even if today had to be sacrificed for some necessity.

In such situations, he still tried to gain something more.

This repeated cycle had given him instincts.

Those instincts whispered to him.

That the odd-looking half-fairy assassin wouldn't be easy.

"Oh, the Spell Breaker, our superior soldier!"

Jack and Bo were the same. They praised Encrid and lightened the mood.

If he didn't know better, he might not have noticed.

But knowing their intentions, he could see through them. The excessive praise was meant to inflate his ego and relax him, making him let his guard down.

'When you look at it this way, they're really meticulous.'

Even if their assassination target was just a mere soldier, they did all this?

Could they be perfectionists?

While picturing the half-fairy's face and speculating about their personality, they arrived at the market.

"So many people here."

Jack quipped beside him. Bo closed the gap from the other side.

"Yeah."

He replied, noticing a ragged man approaching from the front. Suddenly, he spread his arms wide.

Whack!

Again, only Jack got hit while Bo avoided it.

Encrid decisively twisted his body to the side.

Though the cold had stiffened him, Audin's exercises had helped.

His body was less stiff compared to the first 'today.'

Without time to draw his sword, he grabbed Bo by the collar, and Bo reflexively swung his fist.

With the courage given by The Heart of the Beast, Encrid watched the trajectory of the punch to the end, predicting it, and dodged by tilting his head.

The fist grazed his earlobe with a tick sound. Then it was Encrid's turn.

He tightened his grip on Bo's collar, twisting to choke him.

"Gah!"

The man groaned.

"Gasp."

Encrid took a short breath, intending to use Bo as a makeshift shield, and swung him to the side.

Even though Bo was light, the weight of an armored adult man was heavy on his arms.

He lifted and twisted his waist, using centrifugal force to swing him around.

As he half-turned and pulled Bo in, Encrid saw the half-fairy assassin throw off the rags.

Their eyes met at that moment. The fairy seemed to be mocking him.

Why, in this situation?

He had just acquired a human shield.

The assassin should have been surprised since the assassination target had predicted and reacted to his plan.

But the half-fairy remained calm. With a sneer, he merely waved his hand.

The moment the assassin's lowered hand reached his chest, it was like a flash of light. Lightning. A dagger flew at a speed that was literally imperceptible.

The light matched the speed at which the assassin's hand reached his chest and sprang forward.

Before Bo could be swung fully in front of him, the dagger had already flown and lodged near his heart.

Whistle!

Only the whistling sound reached his ears belatedly.

The pain that followed the thudding sound made clear what the assassin had done and what had happened to him.

The dagger had been thrown and had pierced his heart.

"Damn."

His instincts had been right.

The opponent was no ordinary foe. Just seeing his skill in throwing the dagger proved that.

What if he prevented him from throwing the dagger?

Even with the dagger embedded in his body, to those around, it just looked like Encrid and another soldier were fighting.

"Let go of me!"

Bo shouted, kicking Encrid in the stomach. The strength in his grip faded. Encrid released his hold on Bo's collar as he was kicked in the stomach.

A dagger in the heart—it would be strange if he were fine. Blood gushed from his mouth.

As he fell to one knee, struggling to stay upright, the half-fairy assassin approached and asked, "You anticipated it, didn't you? Was their acting that bad?"

People around them screamed in horror, but the half-fairy ignored it.

At that moment, it felt like the only important thing was the two of them, here and now.

"...Why?"

With his last breath, Encrid asked. Despite the screams and commotion around them, the assassin heard Encrid's words clearly.

"Why ask? I'm curious. It seemed like you knew and reacted."

Encrid weakly nodded and, gathering his last bit of strength, spoke.

"The acting was terrible. Even a passing dog would laugh."

The fairy nodded and flicked his hands to the sides.

Thud.

At close range, two daggers flew from his hands.

Encrid saw the tips of the blades embedded in the foreheads of Jack and Bo.

Two grooves, Whistling Knives, Whistle Daggers.

"Th-that."

"Why, why."

Neither could speak further and fell back with a thud.

The half-fairy stopped there.

Encrid knew Rotten was behind him. But Rotten wouldn't jump into this situation.

He'd be hiding somewhere.

The half-fairy hadn't killed Rotten yet. But who knows, maybe he would chase him down after this.

In any case, that had nothing to do with Encrid.

"A persistent lover never loses his prey."

Encrid nodded at the assassin's words.

"Indeed."

"Aren't you surprised?"

"Should I be?"

"Well, most people would be."

Sorry, but this is already the third time.

Instead of being surprised, Encrid grasped the dagger lodged in his chest and pulled it out.

Squish.

As the dagger that had pierced his heart was removed, excruciating pain surged through him.

Blood gushed from the wound in his chest.

As Encrid's vision blurred, the assassin said,

"You're an interesting one."

Yeah, is that so?

'I'll make it even more interesting.' Encrid thought as he closed his eyes.

With the darkness came the ferryman.

"Heh heh heh."

Without saying a word, the ferryman mocked him. He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself. Though his eyes, nose, and mouth were not visible, and his body movements were hardly discernible, the feeling the ferryman conveyed was unmistakable.

The ferryman's laughter was brief. After the darkness, a new morning dawned again.

* * *

"Good morning."

Encrid sprang up, grabbed Audin, and quickly learned about the exercises. As soon as he saw Jaxon returning, he grabbed his sleeve and took him outside.

The moment Jaxon's sleeve was grabbed, he started to push away his assailant, then stopped when he realized it was his Squad Leader.

"Huh? Where are we going?"

Rem asked from behind.

"I have something to ask."

Jaxon, known for his equivalent exchange, surprisingly knew a lot. While Big Eyes was good with general information, the more important details had to come from Jaxon.

He was nicknamed 'Equivalent Exchange Jaxon' because he doubled as an informant.

He would give you what you wanted, but you also had to give him what he wanted.

"You know about Whistling Daggers, right?"

Jaxon frowned.

"Where did you hear about those?"

Observing Jaxon's reaction, Encrid concluded that the Whistling Daggers were no ordinary items.

"Tell me about the Whistling Daggers."

"...Is this a trade?"

Right now, he wasn't a squad member but Equivalent Exchange Jaxon.

"Yes."

The cost didn't matter. Any conversation today would disappear when the day repeated.

Even if he faced tomorrow, he could repay the favor then.

However, he sensed that this conversation would be forgotten, as he realized he had hit a wall he couldn't surpass on just the fourth today.

A wall is a wall. It's not something easily overcome.

The ferryman's mocking laughter seemed to transform into words, echoing in his mind.