CHAPTER 53

"Do you want to transfer to another company?"

It happened just five steps out of the barracks.

It was not common for someone to directly pull a soldier from within the unit.

'Is it because I became a higher-ranking soldier?'

That might be the case. There aren't many higher or top-ranking soldiers within the unit.

Or there might be another reason.

Spell Breaker.

It's the name most frequently mentioned within the unit these days.

Being noticed and receiving attention. It's a first for him. But that doesn't mean he should get excited and jump around like a fifteen-year-old kid.

It's enjoyable, but there are things that should be passed over because they are enjoyable.

Encrid had experience. He had survived until the age of thirty while eating the soldier's rations without dying.

"To the 1st Company, you mean?"

"Do you think I came to put you in the fool's Palto Company or the Rayon Company?"

Palto and Rayon are the names of the 2nd and 3rd Company Commanders.

"Come to my company."

Encrid's promotion duel was strongly etched in everyone's memory.

Among them, Graham, the 1st Company Commander responsible for the heavy infantry, especially liked Encrid.

He was originally known within the military for valuing talented people.

He was also mentioned as the next Battalion Commander.

Such was his offer. It was not a light matter.

The 1st Company, famous for its heavy infantry, was the core unit of the Cyprus Division and an elite course within the army.

But Encrid shook his head.

"I'm sorry."

It was a polite refusal without hesitation.

"Refusal? Why? If you're worried about conflict with the Company Commander, I'll protect you."

"It's not that."

Encrid's attitude while answering was overly calm. There was not even a hint of hesitation.

Graham frowned and then relaxed.

"You don't seem to have any regrets?"

"Is that so?"

Graham stared blankly at Encrid. Encrid met his gaze, wondering what more to say.

"It seems that way."

It was not a problem to be solved by force or coercion. Graham thought so.

"Then."

Encrid pressed his left hand to his left waist and bowed his head in a military salute.

To receive a salute, one should at least nod, but Graham mirrored Encrid's action like a reflection.

Pressing his left hand to his waist, he returned the salute. Then he spoke.

"Thanks to you."

Thank you?

When Encrid stared blankly, Graham continued speaking.

"You survived. I should at least thank you."

Spell Breaker.

That fog was truly horrifying. The more capable the commander, the more its power was felt.

The Fairy Company Commander had cursed the Battalion Commander extensively during the battle.

Graham had cursed the Battalion Commander just as much as she had.

"That idiot, that dumbass!"

He had shouted this in the middle of the battlefield.

When there was no trouble, it was fine to just take care of his own business. But in a crisis, a commander's ability inevitably showed.

The Battalion Commander was an idiot.

At least, Graham thought so.

Especially since he subtly took credit for this battle, which was the dumbest thing to do.

Eventually, everyone within the unit who knew, knew.

The real hero of the previous battle was not the Battalion Commander.

The two men who had stood stiffly giving a salute relaxed.

Graham extended his hand first, and Encrid grasped it and shook it.

It was a farewell mixed with gratitude, regret, and a bit of sadness.

"Go on, and don't forget how disappointed I am."

"Should I send Rem in my place then?"

Encrid joked.

"Not that bastard!"

Graham pretended to be angry and glared.

The two soon smiled and parted ways.

'He seems like a good person.'

It was the first time Encrid had such a conversation with the heavy infantry Company Commander.

Encrid felt a sense of fondness towards him.

Though the barracks were right behind him, he wanted to walk a bit more.

As he walked, he took a rare opportunity to look around various parts of the city.

Before he knew it, he had reached the edge of the market in the city center.

Even though it was a military city, it was natural for merchants and farmers to come and go.

In fact, there were far more itinerant merchants than people engaged in agriculture.

Border Guard was a place known as a military city on the frontier. The number of stationed troops exceeded 1,000.

If the ratio of soldiers to the population was one in ten, the city should have had more than 10,000 citizens.

But 10,000 was obviously too much, and it didn't even reach 5,000.

Still, the city functioned well.

This was because it was a royal domain.

Thanks to the kingdom's support, the military city of the Border Guard could be maintained.

But they couldn't rely on the kingdom for everything, so they also farmed and welcomed merchants.

Among these, the business of attracting merchant guilds was quite successful.

Recently, it was heard that by the king's order, several merchant guilds had entered the city, and perhaps because of this, the market was bustling like never before.

As a result, Big Eyes had been chattering about how the innkeeper's mouth was practically reaching the ceiling.

'It's understandable why he's happy.'

There were indeed many people. When merchant guilds increase in the city, innkeepers' happiness increases accordingly.

Moreover, one of the main businesses of the Border Guard was the lodging industry.

'A major trading venue for the guilds.'

One of the advantages of having a significantly large number of professional soldiers in the city was solid public security.

There were more than enough troops to patrol and guard the city.

As a result, it became a major trading venue for various guilds.

A city with not many residents but many visitors.

A military city, yet also exhibiting the characteristics of a trade city.

That was the true nature of the Border Guard.

Encrid glanced at the entrance of an alley, where buildings were haphazardly constructed, creating a complicated structure. He then turned his body.

He felt as though someone was watching him, but upon closer inspection, there was nothing.

Encrid turned back and walked to the front of the barracks.

After he left, a beggar, who had been hiding under a filthy blanket up to his head, crawled out from the inside of the alley.

The beggar sat down on the ground and began to beg. The eyes within the blanket were sharp.

To anyone watching, he didn't appear to be just a mere beggar.

* * *

Before he could even enter the quarters, Rem's voice hit Encrid's ears.

"Our Squad Leader is preparing to abandon us. Everyone, get ready."

That crazy guy.

"Is it true?"

As soon as he entered, Big Eyes ran up to him.

"No."

Encrid flatly denied it and tried to explain, but everyone's eyes looked hostile.

Ragna, half-closing his eyes, spoke.

"If you're leaving, take me with you."

It was a straightforward tone. It would be understandable if he spoke like that while following orders, but Ragna was naturally lazy.

He was someone who rarely followed anyone's orders easily.

Would there be a unit that welcomed someone like Ragna?

"Well, transferring units is a common thing."

Jaxon agreed, glancing over his belongings. He looked ready to pack up and follow at any moment.

Jaxon was a bit better, but still.

'He's also...'

He wasn't part of this troublesome unit for no reason.

He kept his duty hours well enough, but he frequently skipped training. He often disappeared suddenly, making people search for him. Though he was friendly with people.

'There are limits, and he definitely chooses whom to interact with.'

He obviously showed his preferences openly. He was not the type to blend well into the unit.

Naturally, there weren't many commanders who welcomed Jaxon.

"These crazy bastards, where do you think you're going? Even if the Squad Leader accepts you, who would accept you? You're all a hindrance to his future. So don't come. I'll go alone. Trust me. I'll get rid of those guys and leave."

Rem blocked Encrid's way, puffing out his chest and shouting.

'No, you're the biggest problem.'

Encrid looked at Rem's broad back and let out a hollow laugh.

The heavy infantry company commander would never accept Rem, even if he might accept others.

Considering Rem beat up his superior officer.

There were many who went beyond disliking Rem and outright hated him in the unit due to that assault.

Ragna and Jaxon probably wouldn't be accepted either, but if he had to rank them, Rem was the biggest obstacle.

"You definitely have a problem in your head. I've seen many like you, and none of them lived past thirty."

Ragna spoke while lying on his side, scratching his head as if he hadn't washed it in days.

"So, is it time for me to die now?"

Jaxon responded to that remark. Why these two always seemed to achieve such perfect harmony in moments like this was a mystery.

Was Rem really thirty? Encrid subtly stepped aside to get a look at Rem. He saw the crooked smile of the immigrant from the West.

Rem looked furious.

"Squad Leader, is it okay if we kill those two and go on our own?"

Where are you going, and who are you killing in the first place?

"No."

It was best to intervene before it escalated into a big fight.

"I'm not going anywhere."

As he said that to defuse the situation, Big Eyes nodded and said, "Really?"

But the others didn't calm down easily.

When words didn't seem enough, Encrid was about to physically step between his squad members when there was a knock at the door.

The religious squad member was the only one not present, but he wouldn't knock on his own quarters' door.

So it had to be a guest.

When Encrid signaled with his eyes, Big Eyes opened the door.

"Who is it?"

At the sound of Krais's voice, Encrid turned around.

Beyond the flimsy wooden door stood a member of the Border Guard.

It was Torres, wearing an eagle insignia.

"Nice to see you again."

He raised his hand in greeting, and Encrid responded with a salute, pressing his left hand to his waist.

"Can we talk for a moment?"

"With me?"

"Who else?"

Encrid pointed to himself and blinked a few times. Then he nodded.

As Encrid turned to tell everyone, including Rem, to calm down, he was startled.

Rem, Ragna, and Jaxon had silently stood up and were now behind him.

They moved so quietly and swiftly that Encrid hadn't even noticed.

"That's the guy with the bad habit."

Rem said.

Ragna and Jaxon just stared silently. Torres raised both hands.

"I'm not here to fight."

Gazes were exchanged between the three and Torres. The air inside the quarters felt thick and tense.

Torres broke the silence.

"I heard this is a Troublesome Squad, and they really do jump in without thinking."

Torres showed a displeased expression. It seemed like a fight could break out if anyone provoked him even a little.

At that moment, Encrid stepped in between them.

Blocking his three squad members' line of sight with his back, Encrid spoke.

"Let's go outside."

If a fight broke out, it would be difficult to clean up the mess.

As they exited, Rem snorted behind them.

Once outside and walking, Torres frowned and spoke.

"What's wrong with them? Are they all frustrated? Tell them to go to the red-light district if they're boiling over, and not to think about spilling blood."

Torres had seen something Encrid hadn't. The moment the door opened, Rem, the officer assaulter, moved first. With a single step, he stood behind Encrid, exuding a murderous aura.

Next was the one who had been lying on the bed. He silently got up and stood behind Encrid as well.

In that moment, it seemed as if an impenetrable shield had formed in front of Encrid.

The last one, whom Torres had lost sight of, was the man with auburn hair. He was suddenly standing there, staring at him.

The killing intent pierced, tore, and slashed through Torres's entire being. It was natural for Torres to become tense.

It hurt his pride, but he knew that one wrong move could have meant his death.

'From just three regular soldiers?'

The reputation of the Troublesome Squad's skills was well known. But he didn't expect it to be to this extent.

Would the situation have turned ridiculous if Encrid hadn't intervened?

When Torres had faced Encrid before, he had only shown half of his skills. It was enough.

Could he have managed that against any one of those three?

The elite units were considered the best in the army, second only to the knightly orders in terms of training and talent.

Especially the Border Guard, which had proven its might, time and again.

It was a blow to his pride.

But work was work, and he had to say what needed to be said.

Torres took a few deep breaths to steady himself.

"I'll get straight to the point."

He had received a mission, and he was carrying it out.

"Come to the Border Guard."

The Royal Guard, the Border Guard, was an offer beyond that of the Turtle Heavy Infantry.

It was a royal unit, after all.

A unit that received direct orders from the kingdom, not the Cyprus Division.

It was undeniably an attractive offer.

"What do you think?"

Torres's attitude was full of confidence. There was a hint of pride in being a member of the Border Guard.

Encrid quietly looked at Torres before opening his mouth.

"What does the Border Guard aim for?"

What can one achieve by becoming a guard?

As a soldier, what direction are you heading?

Encrid asked.