Chapter 213

Marcus was indeed a politician.

It was only after entering the city that Olf realized Marcus was approaching, and the moment he received the report, he felt nauseous.

His head was spinning.

Was the retreat treacherous?

No. There was no danger. Only some cavalry followed as escorts.

‘He drove me into the city.’

And then the encirclement, was this guy really crazy?

After the shock subsided, anger naturally followed.

Even as he felt this, he kept his wits about him. Losing his mind here would be the end.

Could he, while organizing from within, defeat the Border Guard army?

Not a chance. They had just been defeated after putting up a serious fight.

Morale was at rock bottom, and proper organization would require time.

Marcus had deprived Olf of that time.

Time to gather his thoughts.

Time to prepare.

Time to call for reinforcements.

Despite this, Olf barely managed to hold himself together and convened a military meeting.

“Tell everyone to come in!”

His voice was loud with urgency. It was a relief it didn’t tremble.

Soon, everyone involved in the military operation gathered.

“I will go out and drive them away. Give me one hundred infantrymen and the cavalry!”

One of his lieutenants said angrily.

Is this guy sane?

If they could be driven away, would they have been beaten so badly on the previous battlefield?

He was Greg’s successor.

“Shut up.”

Olf responded and ignored the lieutenant. No matter how carefully chosen, there are always clueless and idiotic ones.

It was astonishing that this guy had been promoted to lieutenant.

“It was political maneuvering. Thanks to good concealment.”

A lieutenant skilled in flattery tried to soothe Olf, but Olf wasn’t in the mood to listen.

His butt felt heavy on the chair.

His heart was heavier.

His hands and feet wouldn’t move as he wanted.

Whose was the unit without insignia?

It belonged to Count Molsen. The main force was Viscount Bentra’s army under the Count, but even the Count’s personal swordsmen had been killed.

Some of the survivors from Viscount Bentra’s army returned immediately upon hearing the news of the defeat.

They looked so much like defeated soldiers as they left, and the same was true for the Martai army.

Olf’s eyes twitched.

Was he just going to be devoured like this?

Outside the city, Marcus was slowly constructing the encirclement.

How long had he been preparing? Had he planned all this from the start?

They were setting up their camps. They began pitching tents, and it was said that five of them were standing in front of the tents watching Martai’s walls. ŗᴀŊօ฿ÊṨ

Pins were scattered messily over the strategy map. One fallen pin lay on its side, and Olf felt it symbolized his situation.

‘Crazy bastards.’

Suddenly, the five who had wreaked havoc on the battlefield came to mind, and anger surged. They were the main culprits of the ruined battlefield.

Olf ground his teeth. He suppressed the rising nausea.

When do you lose a fight? When you lose your will and guts.

The eastern mercenary spirit reminded him.

Even if he couldn’t win the battle right now, he had to at least break Marcus’s dagger.

“Everyone, get out.”

Olf spoke.

It was time to bring out the trump card he had prepared just in case but had never used.

“What?”

The clueless lieutenant asked again.

He would definitely kill that guy once this battle was over.

He suddenly missed Greg.

Of course, Greg was dead. The assault company was the first to be completely annihilated, and Greg had led that battalion.

The only one left relatively intact was the commander of the 2nd battalion, Zimmer.

Zimmer, sensing the mood, spoke.

“The General has spoken. Everyone out.”

At his words, the group of lieutenants hurried out the door.

As Zimmer was the last to leave, he turned around.

“General.”

“Let me think. Stay outside.”

At Olf’s words, Zimmer, though without a sword, put his hand on his waist and bowed his head.

Olf gave a slight nod.

After the lieutenants left, Olf spoke.

“Come out.”

He spoke to the empty air, and from the shadows behind him, something long protruded.

The protruding object seemed like part of the shadow or like soot spreading in the firelight.

Anyway, the black mass rose from the ground and transformed into a three-dimensional shape.

Then it became a person wearing a black robe. Although no face was visible inside the robe, the exposed back of the hand was white and the skin was smooth.

“Have you made up your mind?”

The man in the black robe asked.

His voice was like a clarinet. Clear and smooth.

Dealing with a wizard is often said to be like dealing with the devil. That’s what Olf knew.

You can’t get anything without a price.

“I have.”

Olf replied.

The cost of the contract was significant. But he couldn’t just sit and take a beating and let the city be taken. That was out of the question.

‘Encrid.’

He remembered the one who revealed his name on the battlefield. Black hair sticking out between his helmet, and the Martai forces were being cut down and slashed around him.

Olf knew the cause of their defeat. Therefore, he believed that if he could break the sword that caused it, there was still a chance.

“Just surrounding them like this isn’t going to solve anything.”

Encrid spoke as he gauged the height of Martai’s city walls.

‘Should we climb over?’

They had no siege engines like mangonels, siege towers, or trebuchets. The only means to attack the walls were ladders.

But it seemed they hadn’t prepared any ladders either.

So, no intention of climbing over then?

Would they use force instead?

He saw the city gate. There was no moat here either.

If Audin swung his hammer with determination, couldn’t he bring down part of it?

It was a thick, dark brown wooden gate. It looked sturdy, but Audin’s arms looked just as sturdy.

No, they looked even sturdier.

‘If we sneak over during the night, we might not even need ladders.’

The walls, weathered by time, were full of nooks and crannies.

There were places to grab onto. If they were determined to climb, it wasn’t impossible. Ladders weren’t absolutely necessary.

Encrid mentally ran through what would happen at night.

‘If I can climb over.’

Rem, Ragna, Jaxon, and Audin could also make it.

With just five people crossing, that would be the end. Audin would open the gate, and the rest would hold their ground.

‘What if they have archers waiting?’

How could they block that? It didn’t seem like just dodging would solve the problem.

Should they bring shields then?

It wasn’t much of a strategy, but they fought while maintaining formation.

They had used similar formations in the past and moved as a unit, but this time it was entirely different.

The destructiveness, being the center of the formation, controlling everything from start to finish.

It was a new experience.

Experience makes a person grow. Encrid was growing once again.

Tactics and strategy, considering the power of the five including himself, what could they achieve, what could they accomplish?

A few determining the course of a battle, the reason why Knights could change the flow of a battlefield.

Encrid was realizing this profoundly with his own body.

“Why are you worrying about that?”

Rem said, picking at his ear beside him.

“Pretending to be a Commander.”

Rem chuckled at Encrid’s uncharacteristic joke.

“Commander of a Company with less than ten people, let’s fill our bellies.”

They moved frantically. Amidst the blood, corpses, brains, bones, eyeballs, severed arms, and fingers strewn across the battlefield, they created chaos.

They didn’t feel hungry immediately. But they couldn’t go into battle on an empty stomach either.

They had to forget what needed forgetting and eat when it was time to eat.

“First, let’s clean up a bit.”

There was a well outside the city gates used by the farmers.

If it was poisoned, that would be problematic, but who would have had the time for that?

Drawing water, they washed up thoroughly. Rem, Ragna, Jaxon, and Audin also took off their armor and poured water over their heads.

Water gushed out and splashed in all directions.

Some stones had been placed on the ground, so they didn’t have to step in the mud. Encrid appreciated that.

“It looks good.”

Finn, who had arrived unnoticed, said with a thumbs up.

Everyone was only covering their lower bodies.

“Indeed, it looks good.”

Next to her were the Fairy Company Commander and Krais. Behind them, Dunbachel stood impassively.

Kyarrurur.

Esther, who had also arrived unnoticed, was blinking her blue eyes, seemingly observing the bodies of the five.

“Where have you been?”

Ignoring the stares and the murmurs of Finn and the Fairy Company Commander, Encrid spoke.

The black panther lifted its front paw and scratched its neck.

‘Not even pretending to listen, huh.’

Well, what did it matter?

It wasn’t like Esther’s absence would get them killed.

“Commander, if there’s an opening in your unit, please take me.”

While waiting to wash, a few soldiers were making idle chatter.

They were washing up during their personal maintenance time.

With no immediate battle, everyone was somewhat relaxed. But they wouldn’t slack on vigilance. The Border Guard Reserve Unit was high-level, meaning they did their jobs properly.

“Are you serious?”

The soldier just smiled, curling his lips.

Encrid chuckled and moved on.

Even if he was serious, he couldn’t accept him. A few random soldiers wouldn’t make much difference to a Company, let alone to their overall strength.

‘It’d be fortunate if they don’t end up as Rem’s playthings.’

After washing, he tended to his armor. The blood-soaked leather wouldn’t lose its smell or color. He just applied some polish and left it.

That should be enough. After checking his gauntlets and boots, he picked up his sword.

A sword is steel. If not properly maintained, it would rust quickly.

Especially a blood-stained sword required extra care.

“Use this.”

In the midst of it, a soldier from the 1st Company handed him a small clay pot made from baked mud, the size of a palm.

“It’s flaxseed oil. It’s valuable.”

“…Why are you giving me this valuable thing?”

“Just use it.”

The soldier handed over the item and quickly left.

“Seeing you fight like that on the battlefield, I couldn’t help but feel respect. It’s just a gesture of admiration. Respect and honor.”

Krais, who was watching nearby, said.

Is that so? It was no big deal.

As Encrid wiped his sword with the flaxseed oil, Rem approached and held out his axe.

“See this? It’s got a nick.”

Wasn’t it more amazing that it was still intact after such intense use?

“This thing says it wants some oil too. Oil, oil, please.”

Having encountered actual cursed swords before, he doubted any enchanted weapon would speak like that.

“Use it.”

There was enough to share.

After cleaning his sword, Encrid drew the sword he had picked up on the battlefield.

Sling.

It wasn’t anything special. He picked it up because having only one sword felt lacking.

It belonged to a commander, but the owner hadn’t even drawn it before Jaxon pierced his throat and killed him.

‘That move.’

Was it the non-lethal thrust?

Erasing killing intent and presence. After that, only the action remains.

Sometimes, you see it coming, but you stare, wondering if it’s real.

Jaxon’s thrust gave that feeling.

It seemed slow and simple enough to dodge easily.

A slow, straightforward thrust.

But when you come to your senses, your neck would already be pierced.

How was that possible?

He had seen it up close. With a heightened perspective, he saw new insights.

‘Momentary acceleration.’

Just before the thrust, Jaxon’s sword accelerates, disappearing momentarily. Similar to Rem’s light-speed axe, or even faster.

‘I think I can use that technique.’

It seemed doable.

There was much to learn from Ragna, Rem, Audin, and everyone around him.

Not just that. From the enemies he killed, the ones who passed by, there was always something to learn.

Things that were invisible before were now visible.

Reflecting on the battle that just ended, it was a rehearsal for a new leap forward.

“Practicing swordsmanship again right after the battle?”

The Fairy Company Commander asked, having approached unnoticed. From his expression, it was hard to tell what he was thinking.

Seeing him slicing the air with his hand, anyone who knew Encrid would understand what he was doing.

“It’s interesting.”

“I see. There will be no battles for a while. The order is for everyone to rest. Fiancée.”

“Yes, understood.”

The sun was setting. The Border Guard’s camp had several tents set up.

But it didn’t seem like setting up tents was the end of it.

‘They haven’t secured supply lines.’

Do they have four days’ worth of food left?

Probably not even that.

Encrid was curious about what Marcus was thinking, but for now, there was no strategy meeting.

Some units would be on night watch and guard duty, while the rest could forget about victory and succumb to their fatigue.

Since no alcohol was provided with the supplies, Encrid sipped on some stashed apple cider.

“You said it was all gone.”

Rem grumbled, so Encrid handed him a small bottle.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“You too, Captain, fought well even with trembling fingers.”

Did he see it all?

His muscles trembled from overusing the Heart of Great Strength.

It couldn’t be helped.

He had to hold his own among these warriors. That was the strain. But now he was okay. His recovery had improved.

Encrid opened and closed his hand to check his condition.

It was fine.

“You’ve grown a lot, our Captain.”

Rem murmured.

Sometimes trivial words slipped out without much thought. Encrid felt it was one of those moments.

“I’ve always been taller.”

Rem shook his head as if to say, “Are you joking?”

Jaxon pretended not to notice, and Ragna spoke nonchalantly.

“Jokes can be practiced too.”

What nonsense.

When it came to wit, being compared to these guys was an insult.

“Pray.”

As Audin started praying beside him, Encrid just kept quiet.

After all, these were the ones who had faithfully followed his orders today.

He was tempted to ask why they did it, but Encrid decided to keep his mouth shut.

It was a pointless question.

If he had lived questioning every action and motive, he wouldn’t have gotten this far.

He just made eye contact with each of them briefly.

“I can fight too.”

While glancing around, Dunbachel spoke up.

“I know.”

However, if he sent her out now, she’d just get killed.

If he intended to use her as a meat shield, he wouldn’t have taken her in the first place.

Since he accepted her, it’s only right to use her properly.

Propping his chin, he took another look around before laying down on the thick blanket. It was time to get some proper sleep.

He could feel the texture of the stones and the uneven ground beneath him, but it wasn’t enough to keep him from sleeping.

As he closed his eyes and drifted off, he felt Esther slip into his arms.

Encrid gently held the black panther with his hand.

When the early dawn came, as everyone slept soundly, Esther slipped out from Encrid’s embrace.

A strange energy was settling over the tent.

It was something closely tied to Esther’s world—something called mystery and incantation, or in other words, magic.

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