Chapter 15 - Just a single phrase.

'Died in my sleep?'

Encrid was so dumbfounded he couldn't even laugh.

'Was I that dense?'

To the point where I wouldn't even realize I got stabbed to death in my sleep?

There was no way.

If he was that dense, he wouldn't have survived this long.

It was hard to even guess how he had died.

Encrid recalled the moment right before he fell asleep.

There was nothing out of the ordinary.

He hadn't felt any signs of danger.

He fell asleep.

He never woke up after that. Did he hear something like bugs chirping in his sleep? Did he toss and turn?

No.

He slept soundly.

He was supposed to return in just one day. He had slept without a single thought.

He thought it was his last rest.

After that?

He felt like he had been bewitched by a ghost.

Even so, he didn't just sit there acting dumbly bewildered.

If you let your brain freeze up from panic, you die.

It was just the start of another today.

Since he had already done this once, Encrid knew what he had to do and what he needed to consider.

There were two things to think about.

One was 'how'.

Whether his throat was slit, or his nose and mouth were covered.

How could someone kill a person without any pain?

The second was 'why'.

'Why me?'

He was killed without even knowing the moment of his death.

That meant it wasn't the work of an amateur.

If the opponent was an assassin, they would be first-rate or higher.

If they were an enemy soldier.

'They'd be even worse than a first-rate assassin.'

The Medical Barracks was in the rear.

If someone had the skill to sneak in here, slit a throat, and leave.

They would be an assassin capable of slapping a knight in the face and returning alive.

Wasn't the answer to 'why' practically already there?

The only people in the barracks besides himself were Krang and Vengeance.

'There's no way someone of that caliber would come to target Vengeance.'

Then there was only one answer.

Krang.

The clueless soldier who claimed to have forgotten his own unit.

There was no way a guy like that was just an ordinary soldier.

The answer to 'why' was solved.

He set 'how' aside.

He would find out when he experienced it tonight.

Strangely enough.

When he was killed by the Stabbing Pervert, he thought it was rough because of that damned pain he felt every time he died.

He had thought looking into that perverted bastard's eyes was the shittiest feeling.

'This is even more fucked up.'

He felt filthy.

Dying without even knowing what was going on.

It felt incredibly shitty.

Even rolling around in dog shit wouldn't feel this bad.

'I really feel.'

Like absolute shit, huh?

Even so, nothing would change.

Encrid tossed aside his foul mood.

Instead, he thought of what to do and organized his thoughts.

'I can just confirm the 'how' tonight. And I can assume the 'why' is because they came targeting Krang.'

From this, one more question arose.

Beyond 'how' and 'why', there was the question of 'who'.

Who was the assassin?

Assuming it wasn't an enemy soldier.

Someone who knew the location of the Medical Barracks, knew how to hide, and was skilled in assassination.

An ally in a position for easy access who had already confirmed their target.

A person suddenly flashed in his mind.

'Company Commander?'

It was a reasonable suspicion.

A Fairy's footsteps were quiet, and their movements were stealthy and swift.

They were the perfect race for assassination.

Moreover, since he was here, she had an excuse to come and go.

Her coming by a few days ago and wasting time with useless chatter made sense if this was her goal.

The pieces fit together perfectly.

"What are you doing?"

Vengeance asked from beside him. Encrid answered reflexively.

"Thinking."

"Thinking? Look at you keeping it short. Have you completely lost it? You crazy bastard?"

It seemed the stab wound on his thigh had healed somewhat, as Platoon Commander Vengeance limped as he stood up.

"Ah, I thought you were Krang, Platoon Commander. My mistake."

"Does saying it was a mistake make it all okay?"

"I'm sorry."

"Is an apology the end of it?"

He caught onto my slip-up.

"I'll go bring something to eat."

Encrid turned away, ignoring Vengeance just as he usually did, and stepped out of the tent.

Through the sound of Vengeance screaming from behind him.

"I'm not eating!"

Krang woke up late and shouted.

He didn't hate the guy just because he had died because of him.

It was true that he felt like shit.

And it was true that his annoyance was spiking because of it.

But Krang wasn't the one who had killed him.

In the end, hadn't he died because of his own lack of skill?

Or just incredibly bad luck.

That was how Encrid thought of it.

'I won't be killed if I know it's coming.'

It was an assassin sneaking up on them. Just making a fuss would bring nearby allies rushing over.

That would be enough to catch a cat that slipped in during the night.

It meant he didn't even need to catch them himself.

Before long, he saw the soldier in charge of the Medical Barracks approaching while rubbing his eyes.

Dragging his feet, he looked like everything in the world was a bother.

This bastard is truly consistent too.

"Thanks to you being late, a certain Platoon Commander is absolutely furious."

"Because I was late? That's because you, the Squad Leader, keep teasing him."

Officially, this soldier was also equivalent to a Squad Leader.

Therefore, the two of them had the same rank.

"For a lowest-grade soldier, you've sure got some nerve, huh?"

Since they ran into each other, they walked back together, and the lazy soldier asked.

It was a question with all the context cut out, but it wasn't hard to understand.

He was asking why Encrid kept fearlessly picking fights.

"With Vengeance?"

"He's a middle-grade soldier."

Not just the Cyprus Division, but the army of the Naurilia Kingdom divided soldiers into grades.

It was essentially a reward system meant to boost morale.

Because if you proved your skills, you were granted a grade that matched them.

Proving one's abilities.

It was a system of receiving a rank.

He heard there was a monetary reward every time one's grade went up.

Encrid also thought this was a useful system in many ways.

Lowest-grade, lower-grade, middle-grade, upper-grade, highest-grade.

These five grades served as motivation to make soldiers train fiercely.

Since Naurilia revered martial prowess, most commanders possessed martial strength of an upper-grade or higher.

And knights were excluded from the grades.

Knights were simply knights.

Because they were individuals who had surpassed human limits.

They couldn't be bound within such a system.

So, a Platoon Commander was at least a middle-grade soldier.

A Squad Leader was either lower-grade or middle-grade.

Of course, no matter how outstanding their skills were, they weren't appointed to a level that would disrupt the chain of command.

For positions of Platoon Commander and above, they were selected with some care.

But there were always exceptions.

Encrid was a lowest-grade soldier and yet a Squad Leader.

And the squad members under him were at least middle-grade soldiers.

"You seem like a strange person."

The soldier said it without thinking.

But Encrid felt odd.

'Me?'

All his life, he had only been told he was painfully average.

Or that he lacked talent.

"Two portions for the meal should be enough."

Encrid said.

The soldier looked at him, muttered, "See, he's definitely a bit strange," and only prepared two portions.

He returned to the barracks, placated Vengeance a little.

After finishing breakfast, he trained just like normal and reviewed the past battles.

Krang had stepped out without eating breakfast.

So the only ones eating were Encrid and Vengeance.

"I guess Krang told you he was stepping out before he left?"

"Well, yeah."

At Encrid's question, the soldier in charge of the Medical Barracks nodded roughly as if it was no big deal.

He had suspected the Fairy Company Commander.

But this guy was also a strong suspect.

'This soldier can come and go from here whenever he wants, too.'

There was a night guard watching the front of the barracks, but they wouldn't stop the soldier in charge of the Medical Barracks.

'Let's not jump to conclusions.'

Even if the pieces fit perfectly, concluding it now would make his mind rigid.

It was better to leave the possibilities open.

Krang only returned after lunch had passed.

It was the same day as before.

Of course, Encrid was the only one moving differently.

"Been busy?"

When Encrid initiated the conversation, the returned Krang tilted his head.

Then, he approached with a subtle smile and asked.

"You know what?"

What was he suddenly talking about?

"What?"

"This is the first time you've spoken to me first."

'Was it?'

Come to think of it, it seemed he was right.

He hadn't really been conscious of it.

"I guess I did."

What was the big deal about that?

Krang let out a small laugh and plopped his ass onto Encrid's bed.

Encrid wasn't really curious about Krang's true identity. No, he hadn't been.

But since today had started repeating because of this soldier hiding his identity, his curiosity was piqued.

Just what the hell did this guy do for an assassin to barge in?

He could try to coax the truth out of him smoothly.

But he was also someone who had genuinely listened to his dream.

Sometimes, it was better to convey sincerity to the other person rather than beating around the bush.

So Encrid did just that.

He sat next to him, looked straight into his eyes, and asked.

"What's your true identity?"

Vengeance, who had been dozing, woke up, saw the two sitting closely, and was about to say something to butt in before stopping.

Because he had also heard Encrid's question.

Vengeance was just as curious.

Encrid calmly waited for an answer.

Krang smiled.

But it wasn't the relaxed smile he had shown before.

He didn't erase his smile and just stared into Encrid's eyes for a while.

'Does he want to have a staring contest or something?'

Encrid leisurely waited for him to open his mouth.

Just as Vengeance couldn't hold back anymore and was about to say a word.

"Hmm, I can't say."

"Why?"

"Because it wouldn't be fun if I told you. Plus, I have a promise I need to keep."

"Is that right?"

"Yeah."

At his statement that he didn't want to reveal it, Encrid nodded.

Vengeance, who was watching them from the bed in the back, heard this entire absurd conversation from start to finish.

And he thought.

What kind of monster-shit conversation was this?

He was the one who asked, so why was he just accepting it like that?

Doesn't that mean he *does* have a hidden identity?

If there was a reason he couldn't openly reveal it?

Was he an enemy? A spy?

Vengeance's thought process concluded. At the same time, he opened his mouth.

"Are you a spy?"

"I'm the Squad Leader of Squad 444, though?"

"Not you, you bastard."

"Me? I'm not."

Krang shook his head.

Though Krang denied it immediately after hearing Vengeance's question, he let out a short "Hmm" through his teeth and stood up from the bed.

Encrid quietly watched him.

He took a few steps and stood in the middle of the Medical Barracks.

The soldier guarding the Medical Barracks, who had been dozing, looked at him and half-opened his eyes sleepily.

"I can't reveal my identity, but I can tell you one thing."

It was a strange feeling.

His gait as he walked to the center of the barracks, his speaking attitude, his hand gestures, his smile, his gaze, the sound of his breathing.

A strange sensation as if all of those elements fit perfectly together.

He was like an actor walking onto a prepared stage.

A strange aura that naturally drew everyone's attention flowed from his body.

Without realizing it, Encrid found himself focusing on Krang's lips.

If one knew how to listen with all their heart.

Could they, conversely, speak words that captured the listener's ears and heart?

"I cannot betray this kingdom."

Words that were neither fast nor slow.

Just a single phrase.

Sometimes it could be a lie.

Sometimes it could be meaningless noise.

Sometimes it was used to whisper a love that would quickly fade.

It was supposed to be just a simple phrase like that.

But it changed so much depending on whose mouth it came from.

The words Krang spoke sounded like flowers blooming in spring, leaves turning red in autumn, and leaves falling in winter.

It sounded like an undeniable law of nature.

Encrid saw an illusion.

It felt as if the barracks suddenly expanded.

And Krang appeared to be standing right in the center of it.

Vast. Back when he was working as a mercenary, he had once passed through the granaries of the Naurilia Kingdom.

The surroundings opened up like those vast plains.

Even though the surroundings opened up so much, Krang stood there vividly.

His presence seemed to encompass the entire wilderness.

'He's not just some ordinary guy.'

He was the type whose grade couldn't be determined.

'A knight?'

No. Would a knight-level fighter only be this skilled?

To be fair, if a knight-level expert hid their skills, he wouldn't have the eye to see through it.

It was intuition.

He probably wasn't a knight.

"Well, if you don't believe me, forget it."

As Krang lightly tossed out that sentence, the vast plains and wilderness vanished.

The vivid image of Krang also returned to normal.

"I'd appreciate it if you believed me, though."

"I feel like I have to believe you."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Because you said it like that."

Encrid couldn't even guess the man's true identity.

'It's not a big deal anyway.'

All he had to do was stop the assassin.

It was just curiosity.

It would be nice if the guy told him, but there was no problem if he didn't.

"Huu."

Vengeance, who must have been holding his breath, let out a large exhale.

Then he looked at Encrid and Krang, about to say something.

"Shit."

He only said that before turning his body away.

Perhaps Krang's identity seemed too extraordinary, as Vengeance couldn't say another word either.

Seeing that, Krang burst into laughter, "Pu-haha," and spoke.

"Don't worry, Platoon Commander. Right now, I'm just Krang."

"... Who said anything?"

Tsk, he's totally freaked out.

Encrid actually found Vengeance a bit cute in that moment.

It was amazing how he consistently picked fights with him despite acting like that.

And yet, he would shut his mouth entirely whenever he saw Rem.

He didn't really pick fights with the other squad members either.

'Come to think of it, I wonder why he only acts like that with me.'

Glancing briefly at Vengeance, Encrid killed time.

The same day passed by.

"Sleep well, Encrid."

"You too."

"Ahem."

Platoon Commander Vengeance, perhaps afraid of the repercussions, skipped his daily evening greeting.

Man, leaving a guy feeling empty like this.

Soon, the assigned night guard stood in front of the tent.

Encrid did not sleep.

He could easily fall asleep if he wanted to, but if necessary, staying up all night for one day wasn't too much to handle.

When he was operating as a mercenary, what saved him wasn't his swordsmanship, but his stamina and quick wits.

Time flowed.

The night deepened.

The night guard changed twice.

Vengeance snored softly from the side.

Encrid forgot about sleep as his mind raced with various thoughts.

'If I just keep lying here like this, I'll end up dozing off.'

Just as he was thinking of getting up to go take a piss.

Sting.

There was a stinging sensation around his neck.

Thinking he'd been bitten by a bug, he brushed his hand over his neck.

Then, his hand snagged on something with a *tick-*.

'A needle? A poison dart?'

He carefully pinched it with his fingertips and pulled it out.

It was a thin needle made of wood.

'Wait, this is unexpected.'

He had planned to scream if the assassin appeared.

A dull pain started radiating from the pierced spot, and soon, he couldn't feel anything.

It felt as if someone had cut off his head and taken his body away.

He knew it was there, but he couldn't feel anything below his neck.

'What the...'

Soon, dizziness washed over him, and his head spun.

'A poison dart...'

He'd been had.

It was the answer to 'how'.

No matter how dense a person was, no matter if they were asleep.

How could they not know their throat was being cut or their heart pierced?

The answer was right here.

It was a potent paralyzing poison.

Encrid tried to keep his eyes wide open until the very end.

Because he couldn't let this 'today' go to waste.

He saw something like a blurry shadow.

Its figure was small.

Unless they had a very unusual build, it wasn't an adult male.

A woman or a child.

It looked like that kind of build.

The shadow approached and swung its arm, and that was the last of it.

"Cyprus! Cyprus!"

He heard the Cyprus hymn.

It was the start of a new today.

To be exact, it was the third today.

"Are they slacking off, goddammit? Why haven't they brought breakfast?"

It was exactly the same. Platoon Commander Vengeance was complaining about the soldier who hadn't shown up for the morning.

Since there was no need to drag things out today.

"I'll go out and see."

He went outside without bothering to deal with him.

First, bringing the soldier back.

Let's start anew.

To be honest, he didn't even know where the poison dart had come from.

Then what should he do?

He needed to prepare instead of just lying down.

What he needed right now was a proper excuse.

An excuse to be awake and up in the middle of the night.

Even if this was the rear, it was still a battlefield.

There were more than enough excuses to be awake.

'Let's try this again, dear assassin.'

Encrid began his preparations.