Chapter 122 - Hey, you half-baked bastards

"It seems something has changed again in the past few days, Brother."

The master of demonic tongue-wagging hidden behind a simple smile, Audin.

He'd easily say to stop training and that I could rest, but when I actually did, he'd wring me out like he was catching a rat.

No, you wouldn't even catch a real rat like that.

Of course, Encrid was quite satisfied with it.

Where did the greed in his heart extend its branches?

It was in learning, in the steps he took to move forward.

So, teachings like this were always welcome.

Next to the hulking Audin, who strode through the morning fog, Encrid stood with his legs shoulder-width apart, slowly squatting and standing to put a load on his thigh muscles.

Audin abruptly reached out a hand toward that Encrid.

Encrid instinctively blocked the hand. *Tap-tap*, it was a technique known as wrestling or physical arts, one that would be called a combat technique if it were the Balaf style.

The hand that was swatted away continuously twisted and aimed at Encrid's body.

When he grabbed, pushed, and twisted Audin's hand that was trying to grab his shoulder, then blocked with his own shoulder, a foot came sweeping in.

When he deflected that, a massive palm suddenly covered his vision, shoving and crushing down on his entire body.

Stuck tightly together like that, Audin opened his mouth.

"You've improved a lot."

It was something he had heard when they met at the rear base too.

Thanks to Pin, who had ingrained Ale Karaz style close-quarters combat into his body, his technique itself had improved, but he still couldn't overcome Audin.

From the start, their height and bone structure were different, as was their muscle density.

Audin's physical strength was far superior to Encrid's, and his agility was exceptional, unbefitting his massive size.

At some point, Audin's hand came in from a blind angle and snatched Encrid's nape.

With Audin pulling by pure force, there was no way to resist.

In close combat, once inside the range of wrestling and physical arts, even body size was said to be a weapon.

If the physique is different, don't grapple.

It was something Audin had said countless times while teaching him wrestling.

Conversely, Encrid had also asked what he should do to overcome a difference in physique.

"You just need superior technique. So what must you do?"

What else but roll around like crazy.

He had heard it while getting twisted and beaten countless times on the bed.

Audin, having suppressed Encrid before he knew it, sang something akin to a song in a thick voice.

"The Lord spoke, saying thou shalt snap the joints clean off."

'No, I don't think God would say something like that.'

It was obviously a joke. Audin didn't apply any more force while pressing down on his nape and one shoulder.

Of course, just staying like this was agonizing enough.

'I caught it with my senses, though.'

His reaction was slow. There were likely various reasons for that.

Among them, his injuries would be one.

Pain was always a cause for slowed reactions.

"If a battle breaks out, you will fight again. Brother Platoon Leader."

That went without saying.

It was an obvious fact. Even though his right wrist was a bit bothersome, it wasn't completely unusable.

Moreover, since the reason he was called here was because of these guys.

If a battle broke out, he would naturally step onto the battlefield and fight again.

"It is impossible with a body like this, Brother."

Audin said while keeping him pinned.

His right shoulder was slashed, and his left forearm was stabbed. His right wrist was still in a splint, and bruises covered his body.

Since he had long exhausted Jaxon's ointment, crushing some medicinal herbs and applying them was all he could do.

Getting injured so often, there was no way any ointment would be left.

It wasn't a large amount in the first place.

"How long do you plan on keeping me like this?"

He wondered what he was doing.

After being pinned down, there was always a process of reviewing the sparring session.

It was time to let him go and enter that phase.

But the strength of Audin's rough grip remained exactly the same.

"Brother Platoon Leader."

He called out to him in that state. Encrid answered, his upper body forced half-bent against his will.

"What."

The morning fog was so thick that the surroundings couldn't be seen clearly.

It was the kind of fog where you could only make out each other's faces by coming within a few steps.

There was a sentry on one side, but though he had glanced over at first, he now had zero interest in what was happening here.

Having grasped the situation, Audin made up his mind and acted.

Sssss.

Encrid heard a sound he had never heard before in his life.

And it was a sound that felt like it struck directly into his body rather than his ears.

Soon, a warmth that couldn't normally be felt on a fog-covered riverbank, let alone at this hour before sunrise, seemed to seep into his body.

It felt like the afternoon sun, the kind of feeling where you'd sit leisurely and read a book. Or perhaps something perfectly suited for taking a nap.

How should he express this?

Serenity?

In any case, something permeated his entire body.

A brief moment passed, bringing with it serenity, warmth, comfort, and a faint tingling blooming from his injuries.

It was not a very long time.

Only then did Audin's rough hand let go of Encrid's neck.

Encrid raised his head and looked at Audin.

The religious fanatic squadmate—he had once called him that.

He seemed as devout as a priest.

Priests who believed in God occasionally demonstrated miracles or divine works.

People called those miracles divine power.

"This."

"No. You will not say a word, Brother. And you will not tell anyone. You must swear to the Lord to do so."

Encrid looked into Audin's eyes. A light lingered within his hazy, pale yellow pupils.

Light—something like radiance—seemed to linger there. That was how it looked to Encrid's eyes.

"Please swear."

"I will."

Audin turned his body without saying another word.

"The fog on the riverbank is also the Lord's blessing."

Stepping to one side, Audin knelt and began his morning prayers.

Well, I'll be.

Encrid scratched his head a few times.

'Just what is he trusting me with?'

He occasionally wondered why his platoon members went this far for him.

Do I look pitiful just from a glance?

Does watching me struggle make them feel sympathetic or something?

He didn't know. The curiosity quickly faded away.

What did that matter?

Audin Plemray—no one knew that he handled divine power. Using divine power itself might be tied to some sort of religious commandment.

It was just a feeling, but what was certain was that Audin had taken a risk.

"Lord, forgive me."

Seeing that his prayer started like that, it seemed to be true.

'He didn't need to go this far for me, though.'

Still, it wasn't like he could return what he had already received.

Encrid unwrapped the bandages on his wrist.

He flexed his right wrist a few times.

Judging from the experience he had gained from rolling around and getting injured so many times...

'In a day or two.'

There would be no problem using his wrist.

The other injuries hidden under his bandages also seemed to have significantly improved.

The stinging pain had largely disappeared, after all.

"Thank you."

He spoke to the massive platoon member in prayer, but Audin was too deeply engrossed in his prayers to reply.

'Lord.'

Through the smell of wet earth wafting from everywhere, the scent of death typical of a tense battlefield was mixed in.

For Audin, it was difficult to just stand by and watch his Squad Leader.

'Lord, since You are always there in that place.'

'I ask my Master, who gives no reply.'

'Was the action I just took truly right?'

'If it's discovered that I used divine power, the Heresy Inquisitors will come.'

'I left the order bearing many restrictions.'

'Even if it wasn't a strict oath, I even had seals placed on my body akin to a vow back then.'

'Because I endured the seal to manifest a portion of my divine power, a pain like someone stabbing my skull with an awl flared up.'

'Even so.'

'I simply could not just watch, Lord.'

'A man burning his own body in the flames of effort was in the midst of being rewarded.'

'I couldn't let that flame be extinguished here.'

It was fine to call it a whim, but Audin simply wanted to do so, and so he did.

After meeting Encrid, he believed the Lord's words resided within him.

'Therefore, I shall do as my heart guides me.'

Audin finished his prayers.

The morning sun was already shining down as the fog began to lift.

Even though he had used divine power to recover his body, not all injuries were healed at once.

If he had done that, someone sensitive might have felt the manifested divine power, and it was hard to use more divine power than this due to the seals anyway.

Still, looking at his Platoon Commander, he seemed much better than before.

"Huu."

For Encrid's body, letting out a breath and moving around, looked noticeably lighter.

God and man, blessing and curse.

The topic remained unresolved, but...

At the very least, watching his Platoon Commander like that set his mind at ease.

Though he frowned as he endured the pain, Audin thought he wouldn't regret today's actions.

It was a premonition, an intuition, and a certainty.

* * *

It was time to rewrap his bandages after finishing morning training.

"Big-eyes."

He was just calling Krais.

When the entrance to the barracks tent fluttered open.

"Is it here?"

Green eyes and a petite frame.

She was the possessor of skills unbefitting her petite size, and his superior.

In other words, she was someone you could say played a part in creating the current lunatic platoon.

Since she was the Fairy who had organized them into an Independent Platoon and brought them to the battlefield without Encrid.

"I heard you got hurt?"

"Yes."

Coming in, she abruptly spoke looking at Encrid, and then the Company Commander tossed something.

Encrid snatched the object that flew at him with a *swish*.

It was a round wooden container.

A flat wooden container similar in size to the ointment he had received from Jaxon.

It was an item with a leaf-shaped engraving on the lid, looking like it had been made by someone with considerable dexterity.

"Company Commander?"

"Apply it. A Fairy's medicine cannot be bought even for a fortune. It's an engagement gift."

Encrid still couldn't get used to the Fairy's jokes.

Above all, since it was an unexpected moment, he even put on a blank expression.

Barging in abruptly, throwing something, and calling it an engagement gift.

"I like that expression. Looks good."

The Company Commander left those words and turned to walk out.

Had she really only come to give him the ointment?

"I'm genuinely curious now. Platoon Commander, what on earth is your secret?"

Krais asked while watching from the side.

Baffled, Encrid also opened his mouth.

"I'm just as curious myself."

No, why would she suddenly come over, throw him some ointment, and leave?

Just as the Company Commander said, Fairies were people with exceptional talent in handling medicine like this.

Seeing her identify the poison during the Medical Barracks assassination incident, the Company Commander also seemed to have deep knowledge of pharmacology.

"It looks better than mine. Being devilish sure comes in handy at times like this."

Jaxon spoke from behind. He was leisurely cleaning and maintaining his gear without even turning his head. He was the type of guy who seemed like he wasn't looking, yet paid attention to everything around him.

That was why he knew the battlefield situation the most meticulously and could pick up on the atmosphere keenly.

"I don't think that's the reason."

Encrid shook his head.

Wasn't the fact that she made a joke like that proof it wasn't for that reason?

Rem started giggling beside him.

"Just stop at three kids."

Crazy bastard.

"Platoon Commander. Don't do that; let's get out of the army and open a salon together."

Big-eyes took it a step further.

He quickly spouted nonsense about how such talent wasn't easily obtained.

And how it was better to nurture his innate devilish talent rather than his late-blooming swordsmanship talent.

No matter how bored he was, Encrid had no desire to live off mooching from noblewomen, so he spoke, meaning for him to quietly shut his mouth.

"Stop spouting bullshit and take off my bandages."

Ragna, who had been carefully observing the situation up until then, spoke.

"So, can you spar?"

For some reason, it seemed Ragna was even more proactive than Encrid lately.

"You crazy slacker, do you think applying a little ointment will magically heal his wounds?"

Rem scolded him, but...

"Hmm."

Ragna didn't talk back and only showed a disappointed look in his eyes.

Yeah, one ointment didn't seem like it would cure him.

It wasn't just a matter of ointment; he had already personally received a miracle this morning that one couldn't even see unless they were high nobility.

Krais unwrapped the bandages, and Encrid subtly angled his shoulder so the wound wouldn't be visible as he applied the ointment himself.

"I'll apply it for you."

Krais offered, but Encrid shook his head.

"It's fine."

"Tch, is it because a lover gave it to you?"

Smack.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Encrid just extended one foot to kick Krais's thigh once and carefully spread the ointment on his shoulder.

As he repeated the same process on his left forearm, a refreshing sensation spread out from the wounded area with a *tingle*.

'It must be good medicine.'

It had an even more refreshing feel than the ointment Jaxon had given him.

Encrid wrapped the bandages once again.

And after that, it seemed he would be able to move around decently enough.

It's fine, should I try swinging a sword a few times?

It didn't seem like a battle would break out immediately anyway.

It was a situation where they were just glaring at each other in a standoff.

If things went wrong like this, a fight could start at any moment, but...

"Anyway, they're so boring. If they decided to fight, they should just fight excitedly until their skulls are smashed in."

Considering there hadn't been any large-scale battles to the point Rem was this frustrated.

Should I swing my sword?

He was contemplating whether he should take a bit more rest instead.

BWOOOOM.

A horn trumpet sounded from outside.

A whistle was used when preparing for an ambush.

Blowing a horn trumpet on the battlefield was a Naurilia tradition.

"The enemy is coming! Entire army, assemble! Assemble! Assemble by unit!"

The sound of a messenger running around and shouting outside the tent could be heard.

"They're here again, those crazy bastards."

At those words, Rem stuck out his lip and grumbled.

"You know what? Those guys really have nothing better to do, Devilish Platoon Commander."

"Why don't you leave out that last nickname?"

He wondered what on earth was going on.

Just as he roughly equipped his gear and tried to step out.

"If a fight breaks out, don't even think about stepping up to fight. Take care of your body first. Please."

Rem added a word.

"I think it is right for you to focus solely on recovering until sparring is possible."

Ragna chimed in too.

Audin only smiled. Seeing a man of that size smile in a way that brought the word 'benevolence' to mind was nothing short of fascinating.

"Were you thinking of fighting? Unless you're crazy, what can you do with that body?"

Jaxon's tone was practically scolding him.

Good grief, are they treating me like a helpless child near the water?

In reality, his platoon members wouldn't actually treat him like that.

However.

They wouldn't stand by and watch him get hurt again.

Don't even think about getting hurt right before their eyes.

Well, it sounded like that was what they meant.

Whether it was Audin, who had used his divine power, or the rest, they were all the same.

These were his platoon members.

Looking at it this way, the Battalion Commander's choice to call him here could be said to be excellent.

Since, no matter what, they were moving under his command.

'Though I don't know if this can be called control.'

Encrid still didn't have the confidence to handle his platoon members however he pleased.

Nor did he have the desire to.

"It's an assembly, Platoon Commander!"

It was the voice of Andrew, who had gone out for guard duty outside the tent. Since Mac and Henri had gone out with him, making it a trio, they were likely together.

Had they deliberately put the three of them on duty together?

It was a consideration made by the soldier in charge of schedule adjustments because Rem had harassed them so much. Just how much harassment did it take for such a courtesy to be offered automatically?

"Let's go."

Encrid said as he stood up.

Even though the area around the shoulder had been cut, his leather armor was still sturdy.

Over his gambeson, and with swords equipped on both sides of his waist...

Mmm, it felt a bit reassuring.

It was time to go watch the battlefield.

He was also curious about what exactly the enemy was up to.

Were they relentlessly requesting duels again?

He'd heard that enemy soldiers kept stepping forward and challenging them to one-on-one fights.

"Those kinds of fights are boring. I was going to swing my axe fiercely for my Platoon Commander, but there's no battle, no battle at all."

It was what Rem had whined about when listening to the war situation last night, despite avoiding the duels because he found them annoying.

Stepping out onto the battlefield like that.

"Hey, you half-baked bastards!"