Chapter 78 - Dyed in Passion

Torres's skills were still outstanding.

When Encrid sparred with him, he lost seven out of ten times.

"Your skills have improved."

Torres said as he stood there blankly, catching his breath.

It was a question that came to mind once again.

What would happen if they fought properly with real swords?

He did not know. Encrid was not the type to have certainty in a fight.

No matter how well one handled a sword, a person would still die if stabbed in the heart by a dagger wielded by a seven-year-old child.

Regardless of skill, the outcome of a life-or-death fight was unpredictable.

"Is that so?"

Encrid replied while lying flat on his back, then jumped up.

"I am next."

"Come at me."

Even though it was a season where one's breath showed, sweat splattered and heat rose in the clearing behind the inn.

He did not know how it had come to this, but everyone only fought with Encrid.

It was an endless series of spars.

It was a valuable time for Encrid.

The Border Guard, including Torres, were skilled at irregular attacks.

That did not mean they lacked the fundamentals.

A guard who snapped a tree branch and held the pieces in both hands spoke.

"My specialty is the dagger. Be careful not to get hurt."

They were two tree branches about half the length of a forearm.

"We should both be careful."

"That is why we should both be careful."

The guard chuckled. Heat was visible within his smile. A pure competitive spirit without an ounce of hostility.

CLACK!

As the branches met and clashed, Encrid fought once again.

It was after exchanging a few moves. He naturally thought the opponent would close the distance, but...

The man crossed the two short branches he held in place of daggers to catch Encrid's sword, then twisted it aside and struck it away.

After breaking his balance with that, he threw the branch in his hand and hit Encrid's torso.

"If this were a real fight, that would have been your eyeball."

He said. This guy was also exceptional. Almost on par with Torres.

It was clear why the Border Guard received special treatment.

Encrid silently nodded. It was another defeat.

It was time for a brief rest.

Naturally, everyone took a break.

Jaxon was leaning casually against the door connecting the clearing and the inn. As Encrid stepped inside, Jaxon opened his mouth.

"You must not be solely distracted by closing the distance just because the opponent is holding a dagger. Are you only going to fight with the fundamentals just because you polished them well? When the opponent crawls on the floor to approach you, is striking their back with your sword really the only answer? Why can you not kick them?"

Whether he lost or won, Jaxon would speak up. It was a time for teaching. Someone might consider it nagging, but it was not like that for Encrid.

He opened his ears and listened.

"I did not know one could use such a method with a dagger."

"The weapon he originally uses is likely a type of Sword Breaker."

A Sword Breaker refers to a sword with the back of the blade fashioned like a saw. In other words, one of that guy's specialties was destroying his opponent's weapon.

"You did well not to give up distance, but you should have kept the next move in mind."

Jaxon went over everything that happened in the spar one by one.

Encrid did his best every time.

If he had given up the distance, he would have simply been defeated. That was why he did not give it up.

Thanks to that, he was able to see the method of using a Sword Breaker.

What he did well was what he did well. Jaxon also pointed that out.

"Think of a way to deal with it."

The fundamentals of swordsmanship and physical conditioning. Learning techniques. Even the training methods to engrave them into the body.

They were all good.

However, he had to figure out how to handle the situations that occurred during a spar on his own.

Those were Jaxon's words.

Encrid agreed with that as well.

He had to repeat the same movement hundreds of times for it to barely stick to his body.

To make anything his own, he had to deliberate over it.

Reviewing and deliberating.

Those were the weapons Encrid possessed.

And so, he did just that.

"After resting, it is my turn."

It was another guard. He was a member who used his sword and feet well. He did not simply step; he frequently mixed in kicks.

He was difficult to face, but there was just as much to learn.

All six Border Guard members, including Torres, took turns sparring with him.

All six used similar techniques, but they also occasionally displayed unique ones.

They had their own individuality, but their fundamentals were outstanding. There was much to learn.

In the past, these kinds of spars would not have been a great help.

It could not be helped.

A person who has not climbed the mountain cannot experience the scenery at the summit.

But it was different now.

'Add it to Concentrate on a Single Point.'

The technique he learned from Ragna was seeing the light. It was only natural that the boldness given by the Heart of a Beast served as its foundation.

"Sharpen the edge of your senses at all times."

Jaxon said. He meant to maintain a sharp sense.

Encrid nodded his head.

Leona approached him as he sweated.

"You must really love it."

"Love what?"

"Using a sword."

"Does it look that way?"

"Yes."

Leona frequently started conversations. Though they were trivial matters.

To Encrid, she looked like a spider observing its prey right in front of its eyes.

A greedy spider that would absolutely never just sit and watch its prey.

'Though calling her a spider is a bit of a stretch with those looks.'

Was she not a beauty that anyone would turn to look at?

"Is it because of the Fairy Company Commander? You seem rather insensitive to a woman's appearance."

"That is not necessarily true."

"Then, does that mean I am not your type?"

What did she mean by this question? A hint of playfulness could be seen on her face.

"I do not think there are many men who could look away from someone with Lady Leona's level of beauty, right?"

He was saying it in a roundabout way, but Encrid meant he had no interest.

After their trivial conversations, Leona would smile plainly and sit down beside the Company Commander.

"Be careful. He has quite the history with women."

Then, the Company Commander would spout nonsense.

Leona would laugh at her words.

Did she understand the Fairy's joke?

The jokes that put Encrid in a tight spot constantly made Leona laugh.

"You are the wittiest Fairy I have ever seen."

"I hear that a lot."

From where in the world?

He nearly twisted his ankle while preparing for his spar. Because he had the edge of his senses sharpened, he naturally heard their conversation. It was loud enough to be heard without having to listen closely.

"He even has a child with me."

"Excuse me?"

"I mean there are people in the unit who believe that."

Would that not just deepen the misunderstanding? He felt a bit worried, but...

Leona simply laughed it off. He could not tell if she believed it or not.

"Are you not going to spar? Are you exhausted now?"

Encrid abandoned his worries as he looked at the people waiting for him. The rumors were bound to spread terribly anyway.

Because of Leona's surprise confession the other day, even more terrible rumors would probably spread.

"Devilish Squad Leader."

The people standing guard outside called him that at the drop of a hat.

"The Devilish Squad Leader who destroyed the Spell."

"The Devilish Squad Leader who cannot leave women alone."

He was starting to want them to stop.

"Is it Devilish Squad Leader?"

Even Jaxon brought that term up.

"Huh?"

"Are all the guards not only looking at you, Squad Leader?"

Now that he mentioned it, it somehow ended up that way.

They had done nothing but spar like crazy for a full day.

The awkward atmosphere that had initially settled around them was gone now. They all bonded through swords and sweat.

As a price, Encrid got bruises all over his body.

"Does it hurt?"

When the one who hit him asked, Encrid would shake his head.

"No."

That strike just now was incredible. He was reviewing it in his mind over and over again.

Countering a downward strike from the upper guard, pretending to block from below, and then slashing the forearm.

The split-second judgment, the eye for timing, and the boldness.

The necessary elements naturally came to mind.

It was the embodiment of an experience he had never gone through before.

'Ah.'

Encrid was once again enveloped in ecstasy.

He was intoxicated by what was currently happening.

Sometimes the Company Commander stepped in and performed something similar to wrestling.

In between, Leona would also talk to him.

"I am jealous. I suppose I should have learned it too."

She said this after watching the Company Commander snatch his arm in midair and hang onto it, putting pressure on his arm joint.

In truth, it was a technique where Encrid had been too busy falling and holding out.

"Utilize your wrestling. Soldier."

The Company Commander also began to chip in with a word here and there.

Whether it was because she saw him listening to Jaxon or if it was pure goodwill.

He still did not know the reason.

Since there was no need to question it, Encrid stuck to his attitude of attentive listening.

"Your left-and-right balance is severely off. Is anyone supervising your physical conditioning?"

It was not just the Company Commander. This was the same for the Border Guard members.

He heard the same thing Audin had said coming from the mouths of the Border Guards.

The difference in balance between left and right.

One could say it was only natural since he was right-handed.

"The first step to reaching the limits of a human being is training the muscles of the entire body. Your strength is quite useful."

Torres also offered advice.

"You only thought about killing the distance because it was a dagger, right? Instead, try acting as if you are drawing them further into close combat. Then what will your opponent think? Plant an evil spirit inside your opponent's head."

A method to complicate the opponent's thoughts.

"You have a bad habit. Methods meant to trick the opponent are fine, but you must not lose your fundamentals. Where are you going to place your central axis?"

They would even point out the mistakes he made while sparring.

He did not know how it had come to this, but...

Literally, Encrid was completely absorbed and took everything to heart. With an attitude of attentiveness, he listened and listened again.

It was completely different from spending time sparring with his squadmates.

Did this look enjoyable?

"Would you like to spar with me as well?"

The swordsman from Polide's side stepped forward. He said this as he unfastened his rapier, scabbard and all, setting it down to the side.

Encrid reflexively nodded his head.

Because it was something he desired from the bottom of his heart.

"You are an interesting fellow. To be doing this kind of sparring during a mission."

I tend to make good use of my time.

During an escort mission, they had even seen blood over the succession issue of a large merchant association.

Even in this situation, Encrid grasped his sword and swung it.

He had to do so.

Because the time of others and Encrid's time were different.

Those who possessed talent and those who did not could never be equal. Therefore, for a person who had to make up for what they lacked, time would always be scarce.

* * *

The rapier-wielding swordsman's interest was piqued.

'His skills do not improve in real time.'

He was a soldier with a charm that drew the people around him in.

The change in the relationship between these people called the Border Guard and the man named Encrid was particularly interesting.

The vigilance that existed between people meeting for the first time had faded away and melted without anyone noticing. At the same time, he gained their favor. Even though it happened right before his eyes, it was truly a fascinating sight.

'He is a rare talent.'

However, it was not a talent for swordsmanship. His current skill was his limit. That was visible to the eyes of the swordsman, the owner of the rapier.

The talent of the soldier named Encrid lay elsewhere.

It was a thought he could come up with because he had lived his life interacting with many talented individuals.

If he were to hear that Encrid's dream was to become a knight, he would have shaken his head immediately.

Nevertheless.

Regardless of what his talent was.

'I do want to try teaching him.'

It was an endless passion. He did not let a single word go to waste.

His talent was terrible, but he possessed a heavy heat distinct from that.

It was a knack for inspiring those around him with nothing but passion.

The instructors who had taught Encrid until now had also felt a similar sentiment.

Even though they all knew it was impossible, they ultimately tried to pour what they had into Encrid. They taught him and taught him again.

It was a passion and spirit that acted as if 'giving up' was a word that did not exist at all.

"Would you like to spar with me as well?"

That made him take a step forward and open his mouth.

"Eh?"

The comrade who came with him, standing by his side, looked at him in surprise. He was surprised himself.

They were enemies if you considered them enemies.

Because stepping forward here would seem laughable.

Moreover, would he not look even more ridiculous if the other party refused?

The problem was that he had not entertained such thoughts at all until he opened his mouth.

Encrid nodded his head.

"Now?"

His arms were bruised, and his entire body was drenched in sweat. His body exuded a heat that would blow away the cold wind blowing through the clearing. Hot steam rose above his shoulders. He had to be exhausted too.

Winning or losing was not what mattered.

Because that guy was purely enjoying the spar right now.

"Good."

The swordsman spoke without realizing it.

* * *

Jaxon suspected the opponent's intentions.

The Company Commander nodded in amusement.

All the Border Guard members were thinking about cutting him down if things went south.

Because they had no intention of just standing by and watching if something happened to Encrid.

And Encrid...

'Swift Sword.'

He was too busy picturing his opponent's sword in his mind.

How should he react?

What fighting style would give him the highest chance of winning?

Could he win?

"Do not overthink it!"

Rem had said that he had never seen a bastard survive who fought while keeping victory or defeat in his head.

Rather than doubting victory or defeat...

"You have to have certainty. That comes first."

Sharpen the blade called certainty.

The Heart of a Beast harbored boldness.

Encrid lifted the tip of the branch and pointed it at the sky.

He concentrated as if gripping a sword handle with both hands.

In an instant, the surroundings changed. His concentration blazed and transformed the surroundings into the middle of a battlefield.

He could see the armor wrapped around the opponent's body.

He could see the thin sword held in his hand.

If he could not dodge it, he would die.

Encrid fell deeply into the thought that suddenly crossed his mind.