CHAPTER 77

"Alright then, we'll stay here for two days, and if the issue isn't resolved by then, I'll decide to escort both of you to the unit. Once evidence or witnesses are collected after the escort, we'll deal with the matter then."

Torres summarized the situation. Pollid tried to stand up, saying he couldn't agree, but the funny bastard on Pollid's side held his shoulder and whispered something in his ear to restrain him.

Leona remained indifferent.

"Alright."

She nodded her head calmly, as if it was what she wanted.

Encrid, watching the situation unfold, nudged Jaxon's side.

Sensitive Jaxon blocked Encrid's finger with his palm.

"What is it?"

"Did you have a hobby of collecting knives?"

He didn't know. Up until now, he had never seen such a side of him. Even in their quarters, all of Jaxon's belongings were just standard issue supplies. He never dealt with personal items.

"It's Carmen's stiletto."

Jaxon answered.

As if that was explanation enough.

Encrid didn't really understand. He had only vaguely heard that the Carmen Collection was famous and expensive.

Jaxon spoke again, noticing Encrid's confusion.

"Even if you had dozens of gold coins, you couldn't get it. Do you know who Carmen is? He doesn't get called a master craftsman for nothing. If that knife appeared on the black market, it would cause deadly fights. In fact, a few years ago, there was an uproar when the third piece of the Carmen collection, a katar, appeared among the assassin guilds."

Encrid didn't know, but in reality, many who lived by assassination died over it.

Of course, those living in the light wouldn't know this.

Only the story remained that the Thieves Guild of Geor retrieved the knife.

"The stiletto is Carmen's fourth work."

The first was a pocket knife.

Since it was the knife used for his first kill, it was named 'First Murder.'

It was said to be already broken and lost.

The second was a thin, long cane sword, the Stick Sword.

The third was the Katar, and the fourth was the Stiletto.

The fifth was a hunting knife with a single edge, and the sixth was a Sword Breaker.

The seventh was the Invisible Blade, a knife whose blade couldn't be seen in broad daylight.

Seven daggers, and seven stories.

That's why Carmen's name has endured until now.

He made exactly seven weapons for seven targets, all for the sake of revenge.

With 'First Murder,' he killed the slave trader who owned him.

With the second, the 'Stick Sword,' he stabbed and killed the soldier who dishonored his sister.

With the third, the 'Katar,' he killed the squire serving the noble who led that soldier.

With the fourth, the 'Stiletto,' he stabbed the heart of the noble who employed the squire.

With the fifth, the 'Hunting Knife,' he slit the throats of each of the noble's guards.

With the sixth, the 'Sword Breaker,' he broke the beloved sword of that noble, completing his revenge.

It was said that the seventh, the 'Invisible Blade,' never fulfilled its purpose.

Some say the final target of his revenge was himself, and that he drove it into his own heart.

The truth remains forever unknown.

It's a story from decades ago.

"Do you carry all those stories in your head?"

Jaxon relayed all the stories in a calm tone in one breath.

Encrid couldn't interrupt him. Jaxon's tone was calm, but throughout, a strange fervor shone in his eyes.

A passion akin to madness.

Unable to stop him, Encrid listened to the end and then casually remarked if he memorized all of that.

Jaxon answered nonchalantly.

"I just know it. It's not memorized."

Only then did Jaxon return to his usual self.

"We'll have to stay here for two more days."

Though he wanted to leave immediately, the escort mission held him back. He had to fulfill his duty.

However, to Encrid, Jaxon's current demeanor seemed like he was changing the subject.

'No way.'

Encrid looked at Jaxon with a peculiar thought.

'Is he embarrassed?'

His face wasn't red, and there were no signs of discomfort, but it was clear he was changing the subject.

"I'd like to go catch them myself, but I can't abandon the escort mission."

It seemed like he wanted to change the topic quickly.

"If you get the Carmen Collection, are you going to sell it?"

Encrid poked him, curious.

"Why would I sell it?"

Jaxon retorted, eyes wider than usual.

He really seems to like it.

It wasn't because of Krona, he purely wanted that stiletto.

Such a unique taste.

Sure, to someone, it could be a remarkable item.

Especially if Krais saw it, he'd be drooling. Selling it would make his pockets heavy.

But if it was purely for its collection value, wasn't that taste a bit too unique?

'It's a dagger used by an assassin to kill people.'

Regardless of its fame, wanting to keep that thing—what was he thinking?

It wasn't even some idle rich person's bad taste.

Encrid didn't argue or ask further.

He just maintained his usual demeanor.

He didn't delve too much into his squad members' personal lives.

That was how he managed to maintain his position as a Squad Leader until now.

Encrid left Jaxon and turned his attention elsewhere.

Towards Pollid. He saw a plain-looking man, the funny bastard, and a swordsman with his arms hanging loose, talking.

The two whispered, and among them, the man with the rapier caught Encrid's eye.

The man's gaze brushed past Encrid.

Encrid stared at him too.

He still felt like he wanted to face him in a fight someday.

* * *

"Things have gotten complicated."

"It seems we made a poor choice."

"It was an inevitable choice."

"Was it?"

The man with the plain face started speaking, and the swordsman responded. His tone was boring.

It was because he wasn't particularly interested.

His eyes scanned the Fairy and the other party members.

'Interesting people.'

Especially the Fairy woman intrigued him. Their 'Naidil' is known for their speed with the sword.

He felt a desire to challenge them.

Before that, the ones around her also seemed quite capable.

He wondered what it would have been like if they were under his command.

'They would have been worth training.'

Both of them weren't bad. Especially the one with auburn hair, even his gait was impressive.

Quiet and always ready to draw his sword at any moment.

"What do we do now?"

"What have we done when things got complicated before?"

The man laughed sheepishly at the swordsman's question. It wasn't an unpleasant smile.

"We solved it with brute force."

"Then do that."

The swordsman looked at the soldier he had briefly locked eyes with.

A soldier with a delicate face.

He didn't seem young.

It felt like seeing a boy who had just grabbed a sword and was excited.

Showing his eagerness so openly.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't drawn to him. It's the fate of swordsmen to want to face those who show such spirit.

"Please, take care of it."

The brown-haired man slightly bowed his head and then went over to Pollid, trying to calm him down.

"Don't get excited. There's nothing to worry about. After all, without evidence, it's over. And when we get back to the city, who do you think the merchants will side with?"

"But, but, what if they catch them?"

"It'll still be fine."

The brown-haired man smiled with his eyes. Pollid was still anxious, but he forced a smile, knowing he had no other choice.

"Trust me."

At his words, Pollid forced himself to muster some courage and added, "Once we get back, it's over. My father's people will support me, and that whore will just die. Maybe I'll take her as a concubine, if I feel like it."

Will it really be like that?

The brown-haired man thought Pollid was an idiot but didn't show it on his face.

Leona silently watched the two.

Their conversation wasn't audible.

The brown-haired man trusted the swordsman's talk of brute force.

The swordsman was wondering if he could fight the Fairy after knocking down the soldier who showed eagerness towards him.

* * *

Jaxon overheard their conversation but wasn't interested.

It seemed like a play to reassure the idiot Pollid.

He just wanted Carmen's stiletto.

'Krais.'

He hoped Krais had properly manipulated the guild members by now.

He had faith. Although Krais was terrible at physical tasks, his skills were remarkable. After all, they had been in the same squad, and Jaxon had seen his abilities.

It wasn't something to worry about.

'If it goes south.'

He could obtain the dagger through other means.

As Encrid respected Jaxon's hobby and stepped back, Torres, who had summarized the situation, approached.

"How have you been?"

"There's nothing to complain about."

"That's true. Looks like we'll be killing time at the inn for two days?"

Torres was right. But was it necessary to spend time idly?

Encrid believed Krais would fulfill his role.

The underworld had its own rules.

And you should leave things to the experts.

Who was Krais?

He was the one who had willingly stepped into the Troublemaker Squad.

Why? There were many reasons, but the main one was clear. In the Troublemaker Squad, he didn't have to fight himself.

The atmosphere was different from other squads.

He knew how to find his place.

When he decided to take over the guild, he must have had his reasons. Encrid trusted that.

Sure enough, by that evening, someone sent by Krais arrived.

"Is there someone named Encrid here?"

It was a boy who looked to be about thirteen or fourteen. His voice had just started to deepen.

Looking scared, he rolled his eyes nervously and asked, glancing from side to side. The soldier guarding the inn gestured inside.

Encrid, who was in the hall using chairs and tables to train his body with the Isolation Technique, heard this and stepped forward.

Since he had taken off his shirt, he draped a large cloth over his body. As he stepped outside, the cold wind quickly cooled the sweat on his forehead.

It was very cold.

"That's me."

The boy, wearing a coat made of thin cloth, looked at Encrid and spoke.

"I have a message."

The boy's tone was firm.

Encrid pulled a few coins from his pocket.

Seeing the boy shiver with fear and looking around nervously, he thought the boy could use a few coins.

He liked the boy's determined tone as well.

But the boy refused the coins.

"No, sir. I get paid by the guild."

The boy handed over a small note. It was quite impressive. It seemed like Krais had complete control over the guild.

A young boy refusing money was notable.

"Who is he?"

One of the soldiers surrounding the inn approached and asked.

Encrid candidly replied that the boy was sent by Krais.

"What's he up to now?"

Krais was a resourceful man who dealt with various tasks, handled information, sold tobacco, and brought in prostitutes.

Hiring a boy to run errands was a common thing.

Encrid went back inside and unfolded the note.

- Before the morning of the second day.

It was a short message but clear enough. It meant they would catch them soon.

"Can I ask what you're doing all day?"

As Encrid threw the note into the fireplace, Torres asked from behind.

"Training."

"While on escort duty?"

"I don't think anyone will attack right now."

"Won't the client say anything about it?"

"As you can see."

"It looks good to me."

Leona was also watching. Encrid didn't care who was watching.

Hadn't Audin said it?

"The Isolation Technique adds a day to each day. Think of it as meticulously building the fortress of your body on today's foundation."

He thought it was a fancy way of saying not to skip a single day.

He resolved to keep that advice as best as he could.

Encrid was the kind of person who did what he set his mind to.

He incorporated the Isolation Technique into his daily sword training.

"Aren't you bored?"

Not at all. It was only fun. The fun of seeing himself change day by day.

While training, he maintained his Sense of the Blade.

He also used the Focus Point technique.

The Heart of the Beast was the only technique he couldn't easily use during training.

So, he continued performing the technique with his shirt off.

"Is it because she's the merchant's daughter? She doesn't seem to be shy." Torres said with a chuckle, sitting on a chair he had turned backward.

Leona responded with a light smile instead of a verbal answer.

She was observing Encrid.

That face and that body.

Even the sweat running down as he trained.

It fit her taste perfectly.

Encrid continued to move, ignoring everyone's gazes.

Watching this, the Fairy Company Commander sat on the inn's stairs and asked Jaxon.

"Does the Squad Leader usually enjoy being watched?"

"I don't know."

Jaxon was curt, and the commander didn't ask further or press the issue.

She was also closely observing Encrid now.

A handsome face and a well-trained body are always welcome, aren't they?

Encrid pressed his palms on the chair, stretched his legs forward, and put weight on his arms.

Every time his body lowered and then came back up, the outer muscles of his forearms twitched.

Two more members of the Frontier Guard joined Torres, who was watching.

"Is that the guy?"

"The one who mocked us as the Spell Breaker? Yeah, that's him."

The two guards spoke loudly, as if they wanted to be heard.

Encrid, having just completed a round of his technique, made a suggestion to Torres.

"If you're bored, how about a sparring match?"

After all, they had time to kill.

There was a large open space behind the inn. It was a facility for those who frequented the inn, a place for mercenaries and swordsmen hired for caravan escorts.

Occasionally, when disputes arose, this was where fights would happen.

So it was a suitable place for a sparring match.

"The lady is quite generous."

As Torres spoke and looked at Leona again, she nodded without hesitation.

"It will be a good show."

Torres had asked for her approval, and Leona granted it immediately.

Torres was also itching for some action.

Moreover, the two Frontier Guards behind him were even more enthusiastic.

"He's supposed to be a top-notch soldier."

"Isn't it proper to start from the bottom and work your way up, Captain Torres?"

Everyone seemed very interested in Encrid.

Encrid was pleased to have multiple opponents.

"Let's have everyone join in."

From that moment, an unexpected sparring frenzy began.

They broke appropriate branches to use as substitute swords to avoid any real injuries, but everyone was serious.

"Count me in."

Even the Company Commander joined, and everyone in the inn became spectators.

"This is crazy."

Only Leona's guards shook their heads in disbelief.

They thought everyone was mad.

What kind of sparring was this during an escort mission?

Of course, they couldn't stop it.

Leona, their employer, had given her permission.

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