Chapter 178

“Really, come whenever, anytime you want, or even if you don’t want to come. No, come. Are you married? That’s good too, great. So, anytime, anytime you want to come and settle down here, that’s good. My daughter is quite pretty, so living together, well, that’s good. Right?”

The village chief, clearly drunk, repeated himself for what seemed like the nineteenth time, asking the person beside him, who was just as drunk, and nodding vigorously in agreement.

As he nodded, bits of food scattered from his bushy beard.

“Yes, yes, it’s great.”

He looked obviously drunk.

The village chief seemed to be losing his senses due to the alcohol.

Encrid had briefly seen the chief’s daughter. He knew she wasn’t even fifteen yet. She was just a child.

While early marriages were customary in the west, they weren’t in the central regions. So, what the chief was saying was just drunken nonsense.

“Hahahaha!”

The chief and the man with the scraggly beard, carrying a lunchbox, walked away arm in arm.

Encrid watched them silently.

Whenever a village overcomes a crisis, a festival always follows.

When the blacksmith of the Border Guard, whether a wizard or not, tried to kill a cultist, Luagarne had shaken his head.

When questioned as to why they should spare the cultist, Luagarne replied, “He’s already dead. It’s stopped.”

The cultist had died of a heart attack.

The remaining monsters fled once they realized what had happened.

Although a few monsters tried to attack, Encrid didn’t need to intervene.

An arrow flew and pierced the head of the remaining monster.

“We won!”

“We protected it!”

Shouts and cheers of joy filled the air, and amidst these cries, Encrid heard his name.

“Encrid!”

It seemed the entire village now knew and was calling his name. The voices of the people he had protected and those who had seen his actions.

Feeling not bad at all, Encrid sheathed his sword and turned away.

Through the cheers.

Through the people.

It was time to return to the village that was just beginning to wake up.

“Long live Encrid’s Wall!”

A strange phrase echoed.

It was something the chief had strongly suggested, and even the head of the guards, who was also going to become a key figure in the city’s future, agreed that the name was appropriate.

‘A wall with a name.’

Well, honestly, it wasn’t a bad idea. It was half-jokingly suggested, after all.

That was the night they drove away the monsters and beasts.

The chief spread out all the remaining food in the village, and everyone ate and drank together.

Encrid did the same. He ate, drank, and enjoyed himself.

“Want a drink?”

He took a sip from the drink Finn handed him, and it tasted good.

It was apple wine, with a sweetness and slight acidity that blended perfectly with the distinct flavor of the alcohol, filling his mouth with flavor.

“Isn’t it good?”

The man had a scraggly beard that looked like it had been chewed by a rat.

The man, whose face and name Encrid didn’t know, smiled sheepishly and asked again how it was. Encrid nodded.

“It’s good.”

“It’s my pride.”

The man with the rat-chewed beard puffed out his chest. He seemed to be a brewer.

“I had been saving this, but I’ll give it to you.”

Though his tone was rough, the sentiment behind it was not. He expressed his gratitude.

“Thanks to you.”

He handed Encrid a bottle of apple wine, which he said was different from what others were drinking.

With a pop, Encrid opened the bottle and took a sip.

‘Hmm.’

It was different.

The flavor, the taste, the aroma—everything was different. The scent of apples tickled his nose, and the taste grew richer the more he savored it. The sweet taste that wrapped around his tongue kept him sipping.

Encrid had never tasted a drink like this before in his life.

“This seems like a special wine.”

“I was saving it for my daughter’s wedding.”

It was a wine with its own history.

Encrid wondered if it was okay to drink such a precious wine.

“I still have one bottle left.”

The man said, smiling brightly. Despite his rat-like beard, his smile was genuinely pure. There was a glimpse of pure joy.

“Here, you should introduce yourself too.”

The brewer quickly brought his wife over. She was beautiful.

They say skilled men attract beautiful women, and it seemed to be true in this case.

“Enjoying the drink?”

Encrid nodded and continued to savor the apple wine.

Around him, the village chief, Deutsche Pullman, and many others sat and rose beside Encrid.

A large festival-like gathering was taking place in the center of the village.

“Let’s commemorate this day every year, shall we call it Encrid Day?”

Do they plan to name everything after me?

“What’s in a name?”

Someone retorted, and others nodded in agreement.

They decided to celebrate the start of summer every year from today.

Would they really do it? Encrid watched passively while sipping his apple wine.

The village chief, drunk, repeated the same words.

The chief’s wife said that in two years, their daughter would become a beauty who could captivate the city, but…

‘That seems unlikely.’

She was just an ordinary child. The child was too shy to even speak to Encrid.

In her place, a cheeky little kid approached Encrid, asking to join his ranks.

“Go and capture five of Deutsche Pullman’s vigilantes.”

Encrid told the kid.

The kid, with a determined look, replied, “I will!”

Then, he tried to tackle a drunken vigilante, only to get a tap on the head and burst into tears.

Trying to act grown-up, the kid ran away crying. He was still a child who probably wet the bed.

He was cheeky, though. In a world where life was harsh without even such dreams, Encrid secretly wished him well.

“Thanks to you.”

Deutsche Pullman seemed to have a strong tolerance for alcohol. He didn’t seem to get drunk easily.

His nose was a little red, but his speech wasn’t slurred.

He silently took a few sips from his cup.

“They said they didn’t have anything like this for me.”

The brewer cursed and said, “If you ever need a glaive, just call. I’ll dance on the blade and swear an oath.”

It was a mercenary’s oath, a commitment to respond to any call, no matter what.

“Dancing on the blade.” a poetic expression for a greeting.

“Dancing on the blade.”

For the first time in a long while, Encrid returned the mercenary greeting.

“See you around.”

With a simple farewell, Deutsche stood up.

Encrid took another sip of the apple wine.

Despite having a few drinks, Encrid’s mind remained clear.

He didn’t feel the urge to pick up a sword and swing it wildly.

He had already replayed the fight in his mind enough.

“Rest is important, brother.”

Audin’s words came to mind.

Encrid agreed with that sentiment. Rest was always important.

If there was one rare day of rest in a year, today seemed like a good candidate for it.

With that in mind, Encrid continued to drink and eat.

A skilled hunter-turned-vigilante had brought a deer and roasted it whole, the preparation was excellent.

The meat was tender, and there was hardly any gamey smell.

The seasoning was just right.

“Whew, who would believe it if I told them about this when we go back?”

Finn, moderately drunk, approached and spoke.

“About what?”

“The monster slayer, the dance of the madman with dual swords.”

Though only when drunk, Finn seemed to have the qualities of a bard.

Chuckling, Finn moved on to another spot.

Krais, also visibly drunk, approached and poked Encrid in the side.

Encrid had noticed him approaching and poking, but he let it happen.

“Let’s go treasure hunting.”

“Sure.”

“No, really, let’s go. Do you think I’m going to keep it all to myself? No, really, I’m serious. You never believe what I say.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

“There’s a place less than half a day from here. I’ve planned everything, including how to get in. Traps? No problem.”

“Sounds good.”

“Don’t you think it’s time to decide?”

Krais’s eyes were blazing with excitement. Who gave him so much to drink?

As Encrid looked at the moon and sipped his apple wine, Krais blinked his big eyes a few times and then asked,

“But what did you say earlier?”

“Ask tomorrow’s you after you’ve sobered up.”

“What?”

“It means get lost.”

At first, people crowded around Encrid, but now they had moved away, mingling among themselves.

Watching this, Encrid thought it looked pleasant.

The moonlight shone down.

The temperature was comfortable, not too hot.

It wasn’t yet the season for swarms of insects.

The northern part of the continent typically didn’t have many bugs.

There was delicious apple wine, deer barbecue, and special foods brought out from each house.

Cheese and smoked meats were served.

It might seem like they were indulging in their supplies, but given the circumstances, it wasn’t a problem.

They had eliminated the threat to the village.

The bodies of the cultists and monsters were laid out outside the village.

The equipment used in the battle was sold by the village to Krona for a fair price.

Starting tomorrow, they will have an even busier day.

They needed to clean up the bodies, repair the damaged walls, and bring stones from the quarry. They would also recruit villagers to expand the village.

Would they absorb the surrounding small villages?

That was usually the case.

That’s how pioneer villages grew.

Skilled people would be brought in, even if they had to be paid well.

That’s how this village would eventually turn into a town.

Building proper walls and something resembling an inner castle—how long would that take?

Without a wizard’s help and relying only on the craftsmen’s guild…

‘It would still take a few years.’

And considering the need to build a mansion and various other factors, it might take even longer.

However, the village chief was enthusiastic, so he would likely find a way to make it happen.

Given the land was overrun with monsters and beasts, it would be hard to receive trade goods.

‘Everything will have to be quick and efficient.’

And that would work.

Encrid looked up with these idle thoughts.

In the center of the village square, there was noise all around.

Some were singing.

Others were playing the lute.

That person seemed to know how to play quite well.

Listening attentively and watching the stars in the sky, he thought they looked like someone wielding a sword.

“Are you curious about how to gain willpower?”

It was Luagarne. She sat beside him and asked Encrid, who did not turn his head.

Encrid did not answer.

Luagarne spoke again to Encrid.

“Why don’t you ask?”

Only then did Encrid slowly open his lips.

“You’ll know when the time comes.”

Was he being laid-back? That didn’t seem to be the case. From what Luagarne had seen, this man wasn’t one to be relaxed.

Luagarne didn’t know why she felt a sense of urgency, but she suddenly felt a desire to share the information. It wasn’t the first time. She had felt this way the entire time.

Unable to hold back, she had spoken, but seeing Encrid’s calm response, she felt a bit annoyed.

“Do you think you can become a Knight?”

“I don’t know.”

Another deflating response.

It was an uncharacteristic answer.

Encrid, still looking at the moon, continued.

“A dream, just a dream.”

Short, but a sharp knife that cuts straight to the heart.

Encrid’s words had that effect. Luagarne placed a hand over his chest armor.

His left arm was still regenerating, so she was effectively one-armed.

She felt a tightness in her chest muscles.

“A Squire uses willpower in a different way. They randomly invoke willpower in one or two actions. Even that is not an easy feat, but achieving that is what could be called the realm beyond limits, the land beyond mastery.”

Why was this Frog suddenly talking about this?

Was it because of the moonlight? Or the apple wine?

“Do Frogs get drunk?”

“Sometimes, but not now.”

Luagarne, being straightforward, spoke her mind.

“Right now, I think I’m intoxicated by a man.”

There was no need to ask who that man was, and Luagarne did not expect an answer.

“Squire Asia was obsessed with the will that creates momentum.”

A Knight is someone who can properly use willpower.

Squires are those who can use it to some extent.

“Even among Squires who have partially grasped willpower, many never become Knights. Yet, do you still want to become a Knight?”

Was this explanation to ask this question? Either way, it was helpful.

Encrid silently nodded.

“Yes, you will become a Knight.”

A dream once shattered, Encrid had mended and stitched it back together. It was now within reach again.

Luagarne looked at Encrid intently.

On the surface, there seemed to be no visible passion, but having observed Encrid, Luagarne could see it.

‘A stubborn man.’

He harbored a fierce flame within that he did not show outwardly.

Because of this, he was admirable. Because of this, he was impressive.

“If you become a Knight, I’ll fall in love with you.”

For Frogs, reproduction and love are separate matters.

So they could love humans.

Moreover, a Frog’s concept of love was different from that of humans. Not just different, but an entirely separate concept.

For them, the concept of restraint or physical love does not exist.

It is perfectly acceptable for a man they like to meet other women.

In fact, they would even inform the woman of their presence and seek understanding.

It was very rare for a human to receive the love of a Frog.

It was something special, a rare occurrence.

Encrid, unsure of what to make of this, looked at Luagarne and then nodded.

“Do as you wish.”

A nonchalant answer, showing his capacity and attitude. Luagarne liked that about him.

As the two shared a drink under the moonlit scenery, a panther suddenly appeared between them.

The panther looked as if it knew how to drink.

“Want some?”

Encrid asked. Esther, the panther, opened its mouth. The precious apple wine was poured into the panther’s mouth.

With a gulp, the panther swallowed a sip of the wine and growled softly.

“Good?”

In response to Encrid’s question, the panther simply opened its mouth again.

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