Chapter 82

He’ve seen a lot in the meantime.

Especially when it comes to speed.

It started with the swordsman behind that fool Pollid.

But even before that, it was always the same things he saw.

Moments faced in every sparring session.

Axe strikes that whipped like a lash.

The swordsman who followed that fool Pollid.

Rem’s axe strikes.

What he experienced and learned on the battlefield.

The things he trained and pondered over alone.

Even the body changed by The Isolation Technique.

Everything converged and settled in his mind.

An indescribable sensation took hold inside him.

Encrid entered a state of Focus Point.

A world where only the sword and himself remained.

Even the sensation in his hand faded. What he saw were lines connecting points.

All that was needed was the strength to connect those lines.

The moment he looked into Rem’s eyes and released it, the tip of his drooping sword traced the shortest line connecting the points.

The sword tip pierced through the neck.

He saw an illusion. So vivid it could be mistaken for reality.

In the illusion, Encrid’s sword pierced Rem’s neck.

Rem fell with a hole in his neck.

Blood flowed, soaking the ground.

The fallen Rem stared with wide eyes, blood foam at his mouth.

There was no resentment in those eyes. Only pure surprise.

“Damn, that was really fast this time.”

The illusion shattered and collapsed with Encrid’s one surprised exclamation starting with a curse.

The scene left in the illusion seemed to crumble away like shards of broken glass.

Beyond the broken glass, he saw Rem’s surprised eyes. The surprise was short-lived. Soon, Rem’s eyes softened.

They were like the eyes of a child who found an amusing toy.

“What did you do?”

He saw a trace of blood on Rem’s neck. The blade had grazed it.

“I almost went to the other side.”

At his continued words, Encrid opened his mouth.

“Sorry, I almost killed you.”

“……I never thought I’d say this, but our Squad Leader was really damn big, seriously.”

“Aren’t I originally older than you?”

Encrid was also taller.

“Man, you’re an interesting guy.”

With those words, Rem suddenly thrust his axe.

When Encrid reflexively turned his head to dodge it, the axe blade started to follow the contour of Encrid’s cheek.

It was a continuation of their sparring.

After that, Encrid had to flirt with life and death due to Rem’s axe strikes.

“Have you realized what it means to swing quickly? Good. Let’s keep going.”

What’s this about, is it because of the scratch on his neck? It seems like there’s a bit of resentment mixed in?

Even so, Encrid didn’t back down.

“Are you hesitating because you think you might kill me again? Don’t worry. I’ll kill you first.”

Rem’s eyes gleamed fiercely. After that, his arm turned not into a whip but into a beam of light.

The axe blade, which Encrid had barely dodged, blocked, and deflected until now, suddenly reached Encrid’s neck.

Without even leaving a scratch on his skin.

The axe blade tapped his neck and withdrew. Since the blade wasn’t sharpened, it didn’t cause any injuries. Only the cold sensation of the axe blade remained.

“If you can’t completely control the weapon in your hand, you’re just half a man.”

These were the words Rem left, signaling the end of the sparring. Lying on the cold ground, Encrid organized what he had gained from the recent sparring.

What is speed?

The conclusion he reached now was trajectory, movement path.

It’s the action of drawing a line connecting points in one swift motion.

What’s needed for that? Drawing lines in the mind and the means to implement those drawn lines accurately.

It’s the body. The body must follow. Therefore, physical training is necessary.

Why does the axe appear to whip like a lash?

‘Strength, trained muscles, physical ability.’

Aren’t these the things Audin has always told him to build up in his body?

It’s the same as what he gained through The Isolation Technique.

Strength is the foundation.

It’s the basis for thrusting or swinging the sword faster than ever before.

To that, the concept of movement path is added.

Immediately after drawing the line connecting points in the mind, realizing it in an instant.

‘This is speed.’

Proper balance and rapid movements.

It was part of the quick sword technique. Encrid laughed while lying down.

“Ha.”

Even without repeating today.

Even without repeating death.

Even without meeting the ferryman of the Black River.

‘The sword for tomorrow.’

Feeling his own growth.

More than anything, he felt proud because it was something he realized on his own, not something taught by someone else.

He had lived a life where he was constantly told he had no talent. Who would have imagined having such an experience in that kind of life?

‘I can do more.’

Seeing the path ahead, Encrid’s heart raced.

He delved into Rem’s parting words.

Reflection and contemplation.

It was time to sink inward.

“If you don’t want to freeze to death, you’d better come inside.”

The voice directed at Encrid, who was lying on the ground, was Jaxon. He seemed to be returning from outside.

Jaxon, with his usual indifferent expression, approached with a warm leather cloak draped over his shoulders, flapping in the wind.

Encrid nodded while lying down and then stood up.

Sheathing the sword he had drawn, he stretched his stiff neck from side to side.

As he rose and headed towards the quarters, he suddenly felt a chill and an eerie sensation all over his body.

His muscles tensed. It was a reaction arising from instinct.

He turned around reflexively and drew his sword again.

Ching!

The sound of the blade scraping against the scabbard rang out.

Encrid realized he was holding his breath and exhaled as he looked at his opponent.

The source of the killing intent was three steps behind. Jaxon stood there, as usual.

The only difference was his right arm hanging down.

“Not bad.”

Jaxon said, looking at Encrid.

Encrid couldn’t understand what he meant by ‘not bad.’

He only knew that Jaxon had done something.

Could the mere act of exuding killing intent be so terrifyingly oppressive?

“The stiletto of Carmen is a very good dagger.”

Jaxon spoke again. Only then did Encrid realize Jaxon was trying to demonstrate what he had said.

“Why continue to train the senses? How can you dodge a dagger flying at you from behind without seeing it?”

Those were Jaxon’s words.

And now he was demonstrating the mastery of the stiletto.

“When you resolve to kill an opponent, you unconsciously emit an aura. We call that killing intent.”

Aura, killing intent, energy, will.

All were similar concepts.

Encrid thought of the escort warrior named Mathis.

He announced his name and elevated his aura, drawing everyone’s attention.

Jaxon evaluated him as a city-level expert based on that alone.

“This is how you sense killing intent. What I just showed you was intense enough that even a passing child would feel it and be frightened, so it’s natural you sensed it. Keep feeling it. Use all your senses to perceive it. This is the next stage of the ‘Sense of the Blade,’ called the ‘gate of the sixth sense.’”

Thump.

His heart raced again.

Just like when he was conceptualizing speed.

“I understand.”

Though he answered calmly, his bold heart kept pounding.

This, too, was almost maddeningly enjoyable.

The biggest change in Encrid from repeating today was this part.

Each day has become incredibly enjoyable.

The joy of growth, which he had never felt before, became a whip and a carrot pushing Encrid forward.

Telling him he could do more, that he didn’t have to stop here.

‘For what purpose?’

His goal was also clear.

Knight.

His dream shone like a bright star in Encrid’s heart.

“Let’s go in.”

Jaxon said and went into the quarters first.

Encrid followed him in.

“Have you done your training for today?”

Audin asked.

“Not yet.”

This, too, was something he had to do. Though it was tormenting to throw his entire body into a sea of pain before doing it, it wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

The fruits that would fall into his mouth after crossing the sea of suffering were too sweet.

The agony squeezed from his body turned into pleasure.

“Let’s begin.”

After that, he began the Isolation Technique with Audin.

After finishing the training, he washed his exhausted body and returned to his bed, where he saw Esther lying on her bed first.

She had her front paws gathered in front of her chest with her head resting gently on them.

Encrid reached out to pet Esther’s head.

Yap!

Just as his fingertips were about to touch the top of her head, Esther clawed at his hand, making him pull back.

If Esther had intended to strike with her claws, she could have cut his wrist rather than just scratch the back of his hand.

Therefore, what he saw now could be considered a cute little tantrum.

Except.

“Why are you doing that again?”

He didn’t know the reason.

Seeing this, Krais chuckled beside him.

“Exactly. She started doing that when we sang the Squad Leader of Enchantment song.”

Apparently, a bunch of idle fellows had enthusiastically sung the Squad Leader of Enchantment song.

“Woo-hoo, laying down every woman in the city!”

“The hunter aiming at every passing woman!”

“Enchantment, enchantment, the Squad Leader of Enchantment!”

Krais started the first verse, and Rem added on.

The lyrics and melody were a mess. It was hard to call it a real song.

“Squawk.”

For some reason, Esther seemed to really, very much, extremely dislike that song.

As soon as she heard the song, she would immediately let out a ferocious cry.

‘Is it because of Krais?’

Krais was terrible at singing. Surprisingly, Rem had a manly voice and sang quite straightforwardly, making it more bearable to listen to.

“What about the Company Commander? With another woman? The Squad Leader of Enchantment.”

Ragna asked beside him. He seemed genuinely curious, but that guy was also only serious about teasing him.

“Shut up.”

Rather than clearing up every misunderstanding, it was better to wait quietly for the rumors to die down.

If he brought it up again, the flames would only grow bigger.

“So, did you do it or not?”

He had to answer this one. It was a matter of Leona’s honor.

“I did not.”

“…Are you serious?”

“There’s no reason to lie about this.”

So what if they slept together?

That’s the truth. There’s no need to cover it up with lies. Knowing Encrid’s character, Rem also knew that what he said was true.

“Are you impotent? When did it get cut off? Is that why?”

This guy is really…

“It’s okay. Brother of Enchantment, God loves everyone. Even if it’s cut off, He loves you.”

And Audin’s comment.

But why does ‘of Enchantment’ precede ‘brother’?

“Pfft.”

Krais laughed.

Jaxon suppressed his rising smile and looked away.

Ragna rarely provoked Encrid’s anger by asking, “Then how did it go with the Company Commander?”

“Crazy bastards.”

None of the squad members were normal. Encrid felt unfortunate being the only sane one among them.

What was the point of getting angry?

These guys wouldn’t even blink.

Encrid consoled himself with the thought that this was better than them fighting each other and lay down on his bed.

After teasing Encrid together for a while.

“It seems you’ve changed a bit.”

Rem said suddenly, looking at the lying Encrid.

“I think the same.”

Ragna added. The others just listened.

Changed? Encrid thought about Rem’s words.

Have I changed? In what way?

“Lately, you seem to smile oddly. But that’s not all.”

Didn’t I smile often before?

Encrid suddenly recalled his past self.

How was it? He couldn’t remember well, but one thing was certain.

Whether then or now, he was struggling just the same.

But back then, he was navigating through a darkness where he couldn’t see an inch ahead.

Now, he could vaguely see the path laid out before him.

Seeing that path gave him a joy that those with talent couldn’t even imagine.

“I always knew you were obsessed with the sword, but lately, it’s been a bit extreme. The smiling too, and your skills have improved significantly. Anyway, you’ve changed.”

Although the reason was flimsy, the other squad members agreed with it.

“It does seem like you’re a bit crazier than before.”

Krais concluded.

Encrid couldn’t agree with that at all.

Where else could you find someone as calm and ordinary as him?

He just spent a bit more time training and had slightly bigger dreams than others.

“Not that it’s a bad thing.”

Rem added. Encrid ignored him. It was night. Time to sleep.

Not time to chat.

Afterward, Jaxon and Krais left the quarters for their shift.

Encrid soon fell asleep.

As always, he felt the exhaustion from overworking his body, but he also felt lighter in the morning.

Has his stamina improved?

He didn’t know. It seemed more recent than before.

‘When did it start?’

He couldn’t remember exactly, but it was recent. Sometime after returning to the battlefield.

* * *

Esther found her opponent annoying.

‘Every time you go out, you get involved with a woman.’

Even within the unit, there were issues. They were together because of those issues, but how could he turn his attention to another woman while she was around?

She was once known as the epitome of enchantment and allure without needing any spells.

Men would line up to offer their souls just by seeing her pass by.

‘Even that Fairy can’t be compared to this.’

She continued her thoughts and then was startled.

It was the moment she realized she had transformed into a panther. What man would fall for such a sight?

Moreover…

‘Why do I care?’

It felt like an utterly unnecessary and trivial thought.

Her goal was clear: to neutralize the damned curse on her body.

Esther moved with that purpose in mind.

Therefore, such trivial thoughts should be pushed aside.

Esther gracefully descended from her warm leather blanket and crossed the center of the tent.

“Going out again?”

It was the barbarian next to the sleeping Encrid.

“Like a sulking little kid.”

The barbarian uttered irreverent words, but Esther ignored him.

She was clear about her task.

Therefore, there was no room for personal feelings.

She silently leaped as a panther and burrowed into Encrid’s embrace.

In his arms, the panther casually poked Encrid’s chest with her claws.

“Ouch. Let’s sleep, Esther.”

Encrid hugged her close.

‘This shameless guy.’

Esther glanced at Encrid’s face and then, pressed against his bare skin, she absorbed a portion of his fatigue and released it into the air.

It’s not an easy trick.

In truth, it’s not enormously helpful.

But for a man who exhausts his body like a madman every day, it could be quite significant.

One more thing.

She had also enchanted his leather armor.

Even though it was a one-time effect, it would block one magical attack.

Because of this, it took her a bit longer to reclaim her true form.

‘This guy needs to stay safe.’

Therefore, it was a necessary act. It was a long-term perspective.

Even while thinking that, Esther found herself comforted and warmed by the man’s embrace.

In her sleep, she entertained more idle thoughts.

‘I should believe his words.’

The words that he would never do anything with another woman, leaving her behind.

Because those words felt like the truth.

Honestly, it didn’t feel too bad.

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