Chapter 109 - Setting Fires is Also a Habit

A magician's gaze, Encrid looked into the eyes of his opponent named Retsha.

'Magicians have eyes too, after all.'

She had a nose and a mouth.

That meant she was human.

["Every human has reflexive behaviors."]

Jaxon's teaching came to mind once again.

He had prepared exactly for that.

Encrid only needed to pause the fiercely thrashing thorny vines for a brief moment.

A means to do so.

A hidden move.

Something he had attempted a few times in the 'todays' up until now.

Meaning he had enough practice.

What mattered was the timing.

Meaning, right now.

While holding his sword with only his left hand, deflecting and dodging, a thorny vine smacked hard against the top of his left wrist.

The surface of the leather gauntlet he got from the necrophile in the sewers was torn to shreds.

At that moment, Encrid raised his right hand high.

At that gesture, Retsha's eyebrows twitched.

It was a natural reaction, considering he had already shown himself throwing weapons several times.

Retsha judged that no matter what her opponent threw, it wouldn't be a problem.

Wasn't she wrapped in a spell barrier that could block most physical force?

Into her unguarded line of sight, a stone flew instead of a dagger. It was a thin bead resembling crystal.

FLASH!

It was a light that suddenly erupted. A light source incomparable to a torch.

Everyone, including Retsha, who had reflexively cast their gaze at the object Encrid threw, was blinded.

Although for a very brief moment, they lost their vision.

"Hup."

Swallowing his breath, Encrid's body moved.

This was Encrid's ploy, having waited for this moment by only looking at the ground.

What he had hidden in his sleeve was a glowing stone he obtained in the sewers.

He had gone through some trouble to figure out how to turn it on.

He didn't expect to use it like this, though.

He utilized the Hidden Knife technique to conceal and throw it.

He had intended to draw out his opponent's carelessness by showing an empty hand, and it had worked perfectly.

All these situations overlapped to create an opening as thin as a sheet of paper.

For Encrid, that was enough.

TAP.

A charging technique he had learned one day by watching an Apprentice Knight, a Squire.

He dashed forward with his posture lowered close to the ground. He gripped the hilt with both hands and raised his sword.

Lifting his upper body broadly, shifting his weight from back to front with his left foot stepping forward, a vertical slash.

Retsha, recovering her vision just in time, saw it and let out a scream.

"Kyaaah!"

That was her death throe and her last words.

SWOOSH, CRACK!

Retsha's barrier shattered. A downward slash of the Heavy Sword Technique, a strike he had resolved to pour all his strength into.

An attack that didn't consider the aftermath.

Retsha's head was caught in it.

THUD. CRUNCH.

The blade, its trajectory shifted after breaking the barrier, flayed her scalp, severed her ear, split her collarbone, and tore out through the bottom.

SQUELCH.

Ultimately, the blade that carved out some of her internal organs and three-tenths of her upper body exited around her waist.

A chunk of flesh, including an arm severed by the blade, dropped with a thud.

It turned the magician into a half-corpse, left standing blankly as her guts and blood gushed onto the floor.

What words could someone cut like this say?

The light lingering in her eyes instantly clouded over.

It was evident what she wanted to do in her final moment.

Because a few vines writhed behind Encrid before losing their strength and collapsing.

"Phew."

Encrid only then exhaled his held breath. Encrid knew that Retsha's barrier would break if it received a certain amount of impact.

Meaning, a strike packed with weight could easily shatter it.

Didn't it just ignore daggers while being affected by Pin's axe?

In truth, it was a bout that utilized everything he had learned from repeating 'today'.

Since he had even concealed the glowing stone using the method of the Hidden Knife.

"Aren't you going to clean up the rest?"

Encrid said as he snatched the glowing stone hovering in the air.

Because of this light, those inside the city would quickly realize there was a commotion on the wall.

It meant they didn't have much time.

SWISH.

Pin moved first, and Torres followed behind her.

There weren't many soldiers left.

GAAHK!

The death throes of soldiers continued atop the wall.

The moonlight still shone upon Encrid.

Torres, Pin, and even the enemy soldiers saw the moonlight shining like a halo from his back.

He exuded a strong scent of something different, something that wasn't an ordinary human.

The smell of blood and the scent of roses mixed atop the wall.

It gave off a truly peculiar smell. It was a scent unique enough to be believed if someone called it a newly released perfume.

* * *

After crossing the wall and touching down, it was Pin's world.

As if she had already prepared, she stuck close to the inside of the wall, dug up a patch of dirt, and pulled out a bundle.

"Supplies for emergencies."

It was probably prepared by the spy inside, known as Cat.

From inside the bundle came dirty straw mats.

She immediately threw them to Encrid and Torres.

While Encrid and Torres threw the straw mats over their heads at the edge of the slums attached to the wall.

Pin snapped the necks of two beggars who stuck their heads close, wondering what was going on.

Seeing her skill in putting opponents to sleep without even a crunch, should one say it was exactly what to expect of Pin?

Hadn't he seen it countless times while repeating 'today'?

Pin's Ale Karaz style combat technique was like a ripe fruit, that of an expert.

The majority of the slums had no interest in their surroundings. Meaning there were no more witnesses.

Like that, the three slipped into the darkness and beneath the dirty straw mats.

Encrid followed behind, falling into his own world.

It was a repeated thought. A review, just as he always did.

When repeating 'today', there were three paths in front of Encrid.

Then, would it be enough to choose one of those paths and break through it?

'Is there a need to choose just one?'

There was something he could see after relaxing the tension in his shoulders.

Meaning, he didn't need to choose just one of the three paths; he would use all three walls.

It seemed possible, too.

In the Smuggler's Hole where the Gray Dog were waiting, he could experience being surrounded by an elite unit.

When fighting the pack of monster Lycanthropes, he could learn how to fight and dodge in a chaotic melee.

On top of that, what an excellent training material Retsha of the rose vines was.

Encrid considered the Gray Dog, the Lycanthropes, and Retsha.

He viewed all three of them as training tools. They were great teaching aids.

That was how Encrid crafted his 'today'.

'I don't think it was bad.'

His wrist hurt a little from the strike he took on his left gauntlet.

For attacks he absolutely couldn't block, he even took the hit, trusting the leather armor he wore.

However, there were no fatal injuries.

"Shh, keep your head down. A patrol."

At Pin's words, Encrid kept his head down and pretended to be asleep.

Their disguise was complete by hiding some of their equipment and throwing on a dirty straw mat.

"This smell is driving me crazy."

"Endure it. Don't you know there was a ruckus on the wall? There's a chance they hid in here."

"Then we should just wipe this place out."

"Shh, what are you gonna do if all these guys attack us?"

Hearing the two patrolmen chatting, Encrid narrowed his eyes.

"Alright. Let's move."

She unhesitatingly led Encrid and Torres as if taking a familiar path.

Lifting his head as they walked, a part of the city entered Encrid's eyes.

A high bell tower visible in the distance, a dirt road, and though a faint light leaked from the inside, it was mostly a dark alleyway.

While Encrid walked, following behind Pin, Pin stuck close to Torres, who was following right behind her.

When Torres shot her a look that asked why she wasn't just doing her job.

"Is the Border Guard all like that?"

"Huh?"

"Are they all at that level?"

Pin pointed back with her thumb.

Behind them, Encrid.

At Pin's question, Torres fell deep into thought for a moment.

A swordsman of that level? Meaning a swordsman who had the skill to deflect and block a magician's bizarre thorny vines not with a shield but with a sword, creating an opening and slicing them down?

A swordsman who, after being taught a few times, utilized his specialty, the Hidden Knife, in a strange form?

A swordsman who held out, dodging while risking half his life caught between Lycanthropes and the enemy's elite soldiers?

Ultimately, a swordsman who cleanly slashed through attacking opponents, single-handedly wiping out a Lycanthrope colony and taking down elite soldiers?

Torres recalled the ones who were said to be exceptional in the Border Guard.

Well, let's see.

Eisen? Barney? Hyoun?

Would they be able to!

Even looking purely at his skill, it felt like he had already crossed some sort of line.

"Do you think there'd be?"

"Huh?"

"I said, do you think there'd be? You think monsters like that are just everywhere?"

It was a truly bizarre feeling.

Without a doubt, he was beneath him just a short while ago.

When they sparred on the way here, they were fairly well-matched.

But before he knew it, things had changed. His proficiency was different, and the way he swung his sword was different.

"Hah."

At Torres's response, Pin let out an exclamation mixed with a sigh.

Look at what the soldier named Encrid had done.

'This is a Platoon Commander? Only a Platoon Commander?'

What would happen if she went back and reported this?

Even as she scanned the surroundings to find the cipher left by Cat, she worried whether anyone would believe what Encrid had done.

While evading patrols by relying on the moonlight and using the darkness.

The top of the wall where they had caused a ruckus grew noisy before quickly quieting down.

Encrid thought it growing quiet was even more ominous.

Now that he had taken out the magician, it seemed his intuition was working properly, wasn't it?

Even so, if he trusted it too much, he'd end up dead again.

He had gone through all the trouble of using all three walls to cross the city wall.

He wanted to greet 'tomorrow' just like this.

Therefore, he didn't let his guard down.

He kept his nerves on edge.

To react immediately if anything were to happen.

Like that, Pin wandered until morning.

Though the three felt fatigued, nothing happened.

The commotion that started on the wall did not strike the city.

Rather, it felt like they were hushing it up.

Hearing two patrolmen chatting as they passed the main road while they were hiding around the corner of an alleyway confirmed it.

"Did something happen at night? I heard someone crossed the wall."

"Shh, orders came down not to talk about it. Don't go flapping your gums and end up getting your pay docked."

The two distanced themselves.

Pin muttered from behind.

"This isn't good."

"Why?"

"It's cut off. Cat is dead."

"Are you saying we made this trip for nothing?"

Torres asked repeatedly, and Pin shook her head, saying that wasn't it.

"He did leave a secret message. But it's a bit problematic."

"What is?"

In the corner of the alley, Pin let out a groan before speaking.

"There's an agreed-upon spot in front of the city gates; he buried it there."

"Why in front of the gates of all places?"

"It must mean he was in that much of a rush. It's a place you'd visit last if you happen to fail while trying to escape."

Things had gotten troublesome.

Torres nudged Encrid and asked.

"Well, got any good ideas?"

"We recover the item in front of the gates and return. Isn't that all we need to do?"

"I doubt that's an easy task."

'This is something to worry about?'

Encrid thought as he looked at the two.

'Their brains have gotten stiff.'

It was understandable. Had they only gone through one or two things in the middle of the night?

On top of that, although Encrid himself didn't realize it, both of them were also startled by the display he had put on.

His swordsmanship and the bold decisive action to make every situation his own.

That was the 'yesterday' Encrid had shown them.

"Let's set a fire."

"……Huh?"

"I'm saying we set a fire under the cover of night and slip out. We grab the item on the way. Keeping everyone from carelessly talking about what happened on the wall yesterday sounds like they're waiting for those who snuck in to cause trouble, so let's give them what they want."

Pin's eyes sparkled. It was a brilliant secret plan. And then the thought occurred to her.

'I should have said that first.'

She realized her own brain had gotten stiff. That was enough then.

Pin was an excellent Ranger.

And excellent Rangers could also become serious troublemakers.

Looking from an enemy nation's perspective, that is.

The three stayed well-hidden until night, then set fire in front of an inn where hay was piled.

FWOOSH.

A total of six locations; they scattered and set fires simultaneously.

Pin was in the most excited state. Her feet were quick and her hands were nimble, and she eagerly ran her mouth by being the first to shout that there was a fire.

That incited confusion among the people.

Moving under the cover of darkness with his back to the blazing fire, Encrid thought.

'Why does it feel like I'm setting fires at the drop of a hat.'

At this rate, he felt like he'd become an arsonist instead of a knight.

Since setting fires seemed to be becoming a habit too.

Of course, that wasn't a problem to worry about right now. He grabbed a torch, practically ran while holding it, and threw it onto some hay. Adding a bottle of oil he swiped from the inn on top of it.

FWOOOOSH.

It burned well.

He seemed to be turning into not just an arsonist but an arson expert, but the effect was outstanding.

"Fire! It's a fiiiire!"

Seeing as the sky had been dim since the afternoon, it looked like a spring rain would fall soon.

That wasn't happening today.

Meaning the hay and straw piles burned beautifully.

The wooden buildings nearby burned well, too.

After knocking over a few torches, the flames fiercely surged.

While all eyes were drawn to the flames, Pin, Torres, and Encrid leisurely slipped out.

It was an event that occurred right before the city gates closed.

Naturally, Pin dug into the ground and grabbed the secret message.

"Looks like we just need to head back now?"

Torres said.

Pin and Encrid also nodded.

It was time to return.

"How did you know the magician's name?"

On the way back after exiting the gates, Torres asked.

He was wondering why they hadn't asked.

Encrid spat out his prepared excuse.

"It was luck. It was the name of a female magician who killed countless of my comrades during my mercenary days, and I just blurted it out."

Was he saying this expecting them to believe it?

Because it made no sense, it sounded like it actually made sense.

Torres's mind grew complicated, and he soon stopped caring.

'Who gives a damn.'

If everything ended well, that was enough. It was the attitude of an excellent soldier.

* * *

Lord Abnaire let out a chuckle.

Sitting in his office inside Crossguard, he continuously burst into absurd laughter.

"Hah."

'Everything was breached? In a single night?'

They had caught the enemy's spy and extracted information.

He dug a trap based on that.

He had also leaked information pretending to be the spy.

He thought he would kill whoever came in, on the off chance they did.

Even while doing this, he never thought anyone would actually infiltrate Crossguard.

And yet.

'The elite soldiers at the Smuggler's Hole were almost annihilated.'

Retsha died.

She was not meant to die here.

Retsha of the Rose Vines was a renowned magician.

"I'd at least understand if a knight had shown up."

But it wasn't that either.

He had first quieted the commotion and tried to catch whatever those intruders were up to.

He planned to do so even if it meant using his directly commanded unit.

In the midst of waiting like that, a fire broke out.

He had left open all possibilities, including an assassination attempt.

Only fires broke out.

After that, the traces of those who infiltrated were nowhere to be seen.

'They just set fires and leave?'

Lord Abnaire kept laughing. He was flabbergasted and dumbfounded.

It was a peculiar expression where his mouth smiled but his eyes did not.

Aspen's genius strategist.

He was someone called by such a name.

He, of all people, had been perfectly played.

How could he not laugh.

* * *

Achoo!

On the way back to the camp, at his suggestion to spar again, Pin thought Encrid was definitely a crazy bastard.

Torres refused in a mild tone.

"Are you not tired? I'm exhausted."

The Border Guard they arrived at like that.

Encrid saw a strange scene in front of the barracks.

A scene of a bald man in a shabby outfit, believable enough to be seen as a beggar, pleading with a soldier.

It was something that made Encrid automatically tilt his head to the side.