CHAPTER 74

The second floor wasn't that high.

Even so, falling with the weight of an adult man, fully armed, was indeed an act of suicide.

Encrid pushed his opponent by headbutting his stomach.

He fell while maintaining his balance.

The sudden tackle left his opponent helpless.

With a thud, they both hit the ground.

On top was Encrid, and below him was the assassin.

"Cough!"

The fallen assassin spat out blood.

Encrid, pushing his opponent away and standing up, exhaled and checked his own condition.

'No injuries.'

No strained joints or ligaments either.

That was good.

Separating the assassin from the person he was protecting was the first priority of a bodyguard.

Jaxon was blocking the way to the second floor.

The rest of the minor issues would be handled by the Fairy Company Commander.

While checking his body, Encrid realized there were no particular wounds on his back.

Blocking the opponent's blade with his body was somewhat calculated.

'The armor.'

The armor he obtained after raiding the Gilpin guild.

Rem was the one who recognized its true value.

"This won't be cut by any ordinary sword. Hmm, it's made from precious beast leather, so use it well. The material alone is quite something. What kind of fool had this and didn't wear it until he died?"

Originally, the box was cursed.

The deceased guild master couldn't break the curse, so he just kept it.

For some reason, the curse didn't affect Encrid.

So, he managed to block his opponent's blade without spilling a single drop of blood.

However, while it could block sharp metal, it couldn't completely absorb the shock, so he was grateful to Audin.

The Isolation Technique had built his body.

And he learned wrestling to use his built body.

Using the skills he learned, Encrid protected himself.

It was possible because he trained continuously, every single moment.

Avoiding the blade, subduing the opponent, all of it.

If he had wasted even a single day, today would not have been possible.

He could state that confidently.

"You're insane."

He saw the assassin's mouth bleeding and wetting the mask. The assassin, finding it suffocating, pulled off the mask.

It was an unfamiliar face.

Of course, with over 5,000 people staying in the Border Guard, how could he know every face?

However, the face felt somewhat familiar. As if they had passed by each other before.

"Cough."

The man coughed again, this time with blood. The blood mixed with his cough splattered onto his beard and dripped to the floor. Despite this, he glared at Encrid.

His eyes were filled with murderous intent. A fierce determination to kill radiated from him.

Screech.

Encrid drew his longsword.

His opponent drew a gladius with one hand and a shortsword with the other.

'Dual-wielding weapons.'

Despite his internal injuries, evidenced by the blood from his mouth, his balance was unwavering, and his eyes were alive.

This man had experienced battle. Encrid's instincts told him that.

His face showed signs of age. He was well over thirty. If he had survived that long, he surely had some tricks up his sleeve.

'He'll probably use some kind of sword technique.'

The attack would be unconventional. This was an assumption based on what he could see.

"Cough, spit."

The man, having blood in his nose, snorted loudly like a pig and spat out a bloody phlegm before asking Encrid.

"Which unit are you from?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"If you're a regular soldier, you're my junior."

Junior?

Encrid showed his confusion through his expression, while his eyes continued to scan his opponent's body.

There were fewer openings than expected. His stance was solid.

"I used to be a platoon leader."

The man said. Encrid believed him but didn't let it change anything.

There were many who left the military.

Some left as cripples.

Some left dead, only their names remembered.

Some left intact but because they caused trouble.

There were countless cases.

Among them, there were those who left honorably.

For instance, if someone chose military service over prison, they could opt for discharge once their mandatory service was complete.

"Were you with the Slaughterer?"

The man asked again.

Encrid shook his head slightly. The reason he responded was simple: to find an opening in his opponent.

But there were none. The man still didn't show any clear openings.

Not bad.

Encrid thought as he subtly lowered the tip of his sword. As the position of Encrid's sword shifted, the man adjusted the position of his two swords. A formidable opponent, both instinct and logic confirmed it.

"Phew, that's better. I was feeling dizzy. Now I'll kill you and then go up to kill her too."

The opponent spoke as if picking up a coin from the ground, as if it were an easy task.

This time, there was no response.

There was no time for it.

The opponent charged simultaneously with his words. Fast. The gladius and shortsword danced through the air.

Left and right, each hand moved to a different rhythm.

'The Valen Dual Sword Technique.'

It was a technique he knew but had never attempted due to his limitations in talent.

Both blades, moving to different rhythms, aimed for lethal strikes. The opponent's footwork and swordplay were formidable.

As soon as Encrid saw the charge, he gripped his sword with both hands and lowered the tip, letting the sword dangle behind his left hip.

The charging opponent's eyes gleamed.

Encrid remained calm. The Heart of the Beast gave him courage.

He couldn't predict the opponent's movements. The Valen Dual Sword Technique was a skill he couldn't perform with his own body.

But that didn't mean he couldn't counter it.

Thud.

He stepped forward with his left foot.

Moving at his own rhythm, regardless of the opponent's.

The two blades flew in arcs.

Before they could make contact, Encrid moved.

"Your strength is impressive."

Audin had insulted him about everything else, but he acknowledged his strength.

Encrid knew how to use his strength and the Middle Sword Technique to break the opponent's swordplay.

Whoosh.

The longsword cut through the air. The blade, mixed with Valyrian steel, slashed horizontally.

Of course, it wasn't just cutting through air.

Thwack, splat!

A mid-level horizontal slash.

Strength over finesse.

He had sparred dozens of times.

Since repeating those days, his skills had vastly improved, expanding beyond the scope of what he learned from sparring.

What he couldn't see or feel before, he now sensed through the Heart of the Beast, the Sense of the Blade, and the Focus Point.

He re-created and trained what he perceived.

For the body that didn't cooperate, he used the Isolation Technique to reshape it.

It was like dodging a dagger with just a nod of the head.

This time, however, he had intentionally swung his sword.

Using his crafted body, he twisted his muscles around his left foot pivot and struck out.

All these actions took place in an instant.

The blade that slashed horizontally cut the opponent's body in half.

The opponent tried to block with one of his swords and slip inside, but Encrid's power overwhelmed the finesse.

It was a clear victory of strength.

Encrid looked at the man, now half-severed and spilling hot, steaming entrails.

"Farewell, senior."

Even with his body half severed, the assassin showed remarkable resilience. His eyes were full of lingering determination.

He muttered something, his lips trembling. Encrid read his lips.

"Glory to the homeland."

Was all of this an act of loyalty to his country? Did it lead to assassination?

He didn't know.

But it seemed worth investigating.

After swinging his sword to shake off the blood and sheathing it, the Fairy Company Commander and Jaxon finally emerged from outside.

"You sure make a lot of noise when you fight."

Jaxon remarked, his eyes scanning Encrid's body from head to toe.

He didn't seem to be seriously injured.

Just a few scratches from breaking through the window.

"If you were my lover, you'd have to handle at least this much."

The Fairy Company Commander spoke in her usual tone, blunt and using harsh words.

"You might give people the wrong idea."

Embarrassed, Encrid blurted out that it was a misunderstanding. The words came out backwards.

"Is that so?"

The Company Commander dismissed it nonchalantly.

"Did you capture a few?"

"Yes, we did."

Nodding at Jaxon's response, Encrid went inside.

On the first floor, he saw those who had already been captured and bound.

Looking around, he noticed that few of the caravan guards were present. Some had been killed.

'The level of these attackers…'

Wasn't very high. But that was only by Encrid's standards.

For ordinary caravan guards, they would have been quite challenging.

Especially the last opponent he killed, a retired soldier.

He could have easily cut down a few inexperienced mercenaries.

Where did this group come from?

The question arose naturally.

Entering the first floor, he saw that the person he was guarding, the young lady of the caravan, had already come down.

The surroundings were filled with blood and corpses, including some of their own. It could be mistaken for the middle of a battlefield.

There had been at least twenty ambushers.

More than half of them were killed or captured by the Company Commander and Jaxon.

A few members of the caravan were vomiting, which was understandable.

The place was filled with bodies, blood, and entrails.

Yet, she only furrowed her brow slightly, looking composed.

She approached, clicking her boot heels as she walked.

"Your name?"

She asked as she came closer. Encrid pointed to himself.

She nodded.

Seeing her nod, Encrid spoke.

"Encrid."

"Are you alright?"

She gestured towards his back, and Encrid nodded.

Thanks to the leather armor. As Rem had said, it wouldn't be cut by an ordinary blade.

He had assessed the opponent's level in an instant and decided he could block with his body.

If not, how else would he have blocked it?

He would have used other means. He might not have tried to block with his body so recklessly, but at that moment, he thought it was the best option.

"I see. I'll make sure you're rewarded later."

It wasn't a job he did expecting a reward.

"It's fine. It's my duty."

At that, she pursed her lips a few times before speaking.

"I'm Leona."

"Yes."

He already knew her name.

After introducing herself, she looked around and took a deep breath in and out.

"Compensate the families of the deceased."

"Yes, my lady."

The nanny, whose legs were trembling, approached and answered. She seemed more shocked than Lady Leona herself.

Seeing the vomit on her lips, it was clear she had already been sick from the sight around her.

The nanny consciously avoided looking at the ground.

In contrast, Lady Leona was...

'So composed.'

Is she more indifferent to such matters than I thought?

No, she's just more resolute.

Or maybe she was prepared for this.

Encrid watched as the others cleaned up the area and then stepped back.

Leona didn't say anything more.

Encrid moved to one side of the inn, noticing the owner's distressed face.

This must be a first for him too.

He was curious—no, he needed to know which lunatic had orchestrated this.

'Glory to the homeland.'

He had heard rumors of Aspen spies within the Border Guard.

"The one who seemed to be the ringleader got away." Jaxon said beside him.

"Why didn't you catch him?"

"Why should I?"

I came to protect, so I'll protect. This is the proper attitude of a soldier fulfilling a mission.

Jaxon conveyed his thoughts not just through words but through his attitude.

Encrid didn't reprimand him for it.

It was probably better than bringing Rem or other squad members.

"Well done."

"Two days left."

It sounded like a call to stay committed to their protection mission. Work is work, and Jaxon was right.

'I am curious about the mastermind.'

The incident happened early in the evening. As darkness fell, the smell of blood lingered.

A few remaining guests vacated their rooms and left.

When the innkeeper's face grew more contorted, Lady Leona spoke up.

"The caravan will cover your losses."

Watching her from behind, she didn't seem frightened like a scared bird. She was confident.

She must not have been raised delicately.

Encrid quietly watched her back and then asked.

"Are we staying up all night? Company Commander?"

"Do you want to?"

"No."

"Then we'll take turns. You rest first."

"Yes."

Without hesitation, Encrid went up to the second floor.

As he ascended, he clenched and then opened his hand.

How skilled had his opponent been?

At least as skilled as that thrusting maniac he had repeatedly encountered on the battlefield during his first 'today'.

Falling from the second floor, he had inflicted injuries on his opponent.

'His internal organs were damaged.'

His limbs wouldn't have had full strength either.

That didn't dim the light of victory.

'Even if he was at his best, I would have won.'

Confidence—those three words he had never truly possessed in his life.

Now, they began to sprout within him.

He would still walk like a turtle, but it would be a different walk.

Encrid felt he had taken a step closer to his dream. Though it was too small to be visible, the fact that he had advanced filled him with satisfaction.

"Thank you for saving us."

One of the guards, descending the stairs, encountered him.

"If we hadn't requested protection from the Border Guard…"

The female guard, who had been Leona's close protector, looked pale.

Even with a hole in her stomach, she was already walking.

Was she desperate to die?

"It was a shallow wound. It was close. My internal organs weren't damaged."

She spoke, sensing his gaze.

"That's a relief."

They awkwardly looked at each other before Encrid passed her and continued upward.

"Thank you."

The female guard said again. Encrid took it in stride.

It was his duty.

That was his mission and job.

Encrid rested for exactly half a day and woke up at dawn.

"It's your turn, Squad Leader."

It was the call of the Company Commander, though he was already awake.

He shared a room with the Company Commander and Jaxon.

There were no issues with taking turns using it. After all, they were soldiers before being men and women.

Even with the Border Guard's regular troops as escorts, there had been an ambush.

This ambush had caused quite a stir.

In front of the inn, two squads of soldiers were deployed. They were from the 2nd Company.

"I'll catch that bastard and make sure he pays." one of the platoon leaders from the 2nd Company said confidently.

It was said they took the captured assailants with them.

Encrid went down alone.

Despite the cleaning efforts, the hall still smelled faintly of blood and other unpleasant odors.

The dim light from the candelabra illuminated the hall. It was empty.

Ordinary guests had long since moved to other inns.

As a result, the main hall was empty.

Encrid took a seat at one of the tables.

He then began his review.

It was a natural thing for him to do.

Even without repeating today, it was something he always did.

He continued reviewing and doing any training he could while sitting.

Just before the morning sun rose, someone came down the stairs.

"You're up early."

It was Lady Leona, the person he was tasked with protecting.

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