Chapter 79 - How to Handle an Idiot

A single thin branch and a single person.

A drooping arm, a branch seemingly on the verge of touching the ground.

It looked like a sword. A sword sharper and more pointed than any blade.

After that, there was no time to think or hesitate.

Everything happened in an instant and ended in an instant.

Encrid saw the illusion of a battlefield.

The moment he thought the opponent moved his foot, he struck down his sword from the realm of instinct.

SWOOSH!

The branch Encrid held cleaved heavily through the air.

It cleaved exactly nothing but the air.

And the tip of the opponent's branch touched his neck.

TAP!

'How?'

He reflected on the scene he had just witnessed. He had seen it. So it would be correct to say he had been hit even after seeing it.

"It seems everyone says a word after it's over, so I will too. It was the timing."

The man said.

The opponent used the Swift Sword. And he utilized it like a manual for the Righteous Sword Technique.

He didn't move first, but rather counter-utilized the sword strike Encrid swung down.

'He didn't just parry it.'

Encrid's eyes turned toward the opponent's feet.

He saw the dirt ground that had drawn a smooth semicircle following the opponent's boots.

'He twisted his body to hide his centerline.'

It was a basic skill. In a way, one could call it a simple technique.

He twisted his body to dodge and ended it by thrusting his sword.

'If this were a battlefield.'

He would have experienced something similar to the first stab.

Even though he thought he had reached a completely different level from back then.

It was far and high. The opponent's skill was vastly superior.

To the extent that an ordinary person would realize their limits and be swept away by despair and frustration.

It showed that much of a difference. Just by thrusting a stick once.

"You don't look like you're on the younger side."

The man trailed off. Since it was a statement that contained a question, Encrid answered.

"Thirty. One more time?"

"You want to go one more time?"

Nod.

"Hah."

At Encrid's nod, the man let out a dejected laugh.

Because in his eyes, this guy wasn't normal.

He had shown the difference in their skills.

He had stepped up fueled by passion, but since his limits were clear, the man wanted to break his spirit so he wouldn't waste time.

Because defeat is bitterly painful for anyone.

And it would hurt even more the more one faced an opponent with an overwhelming difference.

What is it like to lose?

What becomes of those who face defeat?

They become frustrated, despair, and suffer.

Among them, there are those who refuse to acknowledge it and throw a fit, but.

'Is it a fit?'

It didn't look like that.

"It seems like you're stealing the timing of the downward strike, but how did you do it?"

Rather, he was asking to be taught more.

There wasn't a hint of embarrassment. Just like when he first tempted him, he only stared with eyes harboring a silent flame that could burn anything.

'He's a lunatic.'

Even though that thought occurred to him, the man took his stance once again.

Even though he could see his opponent's skill and limits.

He still felt the desire to do it again for him.

Another spar, and naturally, Encrid lost.

He lost four more times.

He challenged him without getting tired, and the swordsman on Polide's side accepted them all.

"You are not yet at the level to face him."

Jaxon offered consolation instead of advice, but Encrid didn't particularly need consolation.

Losing, defeat, he had experienced it countless times.

He had been broken by talents younger than him.

He had been pushed back by mercenaries who had taken up the sword later than him.

He had even lost to some punk playing the Town's Watch in a village.

He had also lost to bandits.

During his mercenary days, he had also been defeated by a son of a bitch who proved that personality and skill were not proportional.

He had run away from beasts or monsters countless times too.

Even when a harpy's claws gouged out a comrade's heart, he was too busy running away.

If he had dropped his head every time that happened, Encrid wouldn't even be able to act as a Squad Leader here right now.

He never got hurt by things like this.

However.

"That was fun."

It was just enjoyable. Encrid was honest.

"... Sometimes I look at you and think you're too weird, Squad Leader."

Encrid really didn't want to hear this from his squad member.

He had brought Jaxon because he was the most normal one, but wasn't this guy practically not an ordinary soldier either?

Starting with perfectly ignoring that guy named Polide when he spoke, it wasn't normal.

Even now, Jaxon was completely ignoring Polide.

Whenever he had a chance, Polide would sneak up and say.

"You soldier bastard, I've remembered your face. I am the next head of the Roquefried Merchant Association."

Even when he said that, Jaxon cleanly ignored him.

"Hey, hey, aren't you going to answer? What, are you so scared shitless that you can't speak?"

He still ignored him.

"This son of a bitch, I'll make you shed tears and regret this later."

He ignored him even then.

Should one say he was consistent?

Later on, it even reached the point where that guy Polid complained to Encrid.

"Hey, why does that bastard keep ignoring me?"

Since he was treating him entirely like he didn't exist, it seemed to drive him crazy. To Encrid, it looked like Polid would cry if poked.

Feeling pitiful for the other party, Encrid offered some advice.

"Because you keep talking to him."

It was a wise answer to a foolish question.

He was ignoring him because he kept talking, wasn't he?

He shouldn't have talked to him in the first place.

Encrid inwardly nodded at his own generosity. It was an incredibly kind piece of advice.

Yet Polide, who heard those words, trembled furiously.

"You, you, you."

Seeing him unable to continue speaking, Encrid freshly walked right past him.

"Soldier, you're brutal."

The Company Commander said that from the side, but.

He couldn't possibly be any kinder than this.

Although there was an instance where Leona, who was listening to that, spat out the tea she was drinking.

"Hmm, I'd like to say once again that I really like you."

And then she left those words.

Like, why was she acting like this when he was just showing kindness?

* * *

The repeated spars ended after a full day had passed.

Because it was now time to wrap things up.

The Border Guard member, the Company Commander, and even the unnamed swordsman.

Encrid had gained a lot.

Although everyone, including Jaxon, merely admired his passion.

To Encrid, it was an incredibly valuable time.

'Especially.'

The opposing swordsman had shown him what the Swift Sword was, how to deal with it, and what an opponent could do using speed.

Although nothing was engraved in his head like a lightning strike right at this moment.

'It's fine.'

When he encountered a wall, it would be incredibly useful.

The next morning dawned after he washed off his sweat, warmed his body by the fireplace, and even checked his armaments.

"Squad Leader."

Krais opened the inn door.

Behind him, the bald Gilfin could be seen, and in Gilfin's hand, he held a guy whose face was half-smashed.

Looking at him beaten up like that, it seemed impossible to recognize his face.

"It's him."

The Company Commander recognized him at a glance. A Fairy's senses seemed to be different no matter what.

"Hic."

The idiot Polide hiccuped.

Encrid wondered what was going on in the heads of his subordinates to even consider making a guy like that the head of the merchant association.

'Are they planning to set him up as a puppet?'

If so, well.

If not, why would a swordsman of that caliber be there?

It didn't seem like they had caught any of his weaknesses either.

"Uuuugh, p-please spare me."

The captured guy drooled blood-mixed saliva. The dripping blood and saliva pooled on the floor.

He must have been beaten up quite a bit.

"This friend was rough at first, but his personality softened up a bit after we had a conversation."

Krais said.

Naturally, the conversation Krais mentioned wasn't done using his tongue.

Fists or feet.

It seemed blades were mixed in as well.

Looking around his forearms, there were cuts too.

They were roughly bandaged with old linen, but the marks were clear.

"I am the leader. That's right. I was blinded by crona and caused this."

The man spat out words he wasn't even asked.

"Wait a moment."

While everyone was focused on the beaten man's mouth, Leona's voice refreshed the surroundings.

"I'd like to clear out some people. The person in charge is the special-grade soldier, Platoon Commander Torres, right?"

"... I will."

There were indeed many eyes watching. As Torres nodded, two Border Guard members put their hands under the man's armpits.

They headed straight upstairs like that.

Soon, Leona and Polide, Torres and the smooth-talking brown-haired man, and even the swordsman who sparred with Encrid headed upstairs.

Encrid and the Company Commander decided to join that group and go up together.

"I ask the two of you to finish up escorting me."

At those words, Jaxon stayed downstairs. To be more precise, he didn't seem to have any intention of stepping away from the spot where the Stiletto of the Carmen Collection was laid out before his eyes.

While everyone was moving, Krais approached Encrid, who was about to go up, and sneakily asked.

"What is it?"

"Are you asking because you don't know, or are you asking to confirm?"

"Let's just say I'm asking because I want to receive what I'm owed."

This crona-crazed Big-eyes.

Since he worked, it was only natural that he had to be paid a price.

Even so, he couldn't give him the Stiletto.

"You can take all of this month's expenses."

The moment they brought the man in, Krais had seen the corners of Jaxon's mouth slightly curl up before stopping.

Taking the Carmen Collection from Jaxon's hands right now would be impossible without some serious skill.

He had no intention of doing so either.

He also had no intention of making him work and then wiping his mouth clean. Encrid yielded the pouch he was supposed to receive from the guild, that is, Krais.

"You promised."

What would Krais do if he knew the price was the Carmen Collection?

Would he still just let it slide?

In fact, there was nothing to think about.

He would. He would just let it slide.

Because that was an item Jaxon coveted.

Krais knew his place well within the squad.

Encrid wasn't the only one who had learned how to survive within the squad.

Whether it was Jaxon, Rem, Ragna, or Audin.

If it was something they desired, Krais cleanly stepped back.

He didn't do something as stupid as shoving his hand into a hound's muzzle just to check if it bit while looking at a tied-up hunting dog.

"See you later."

Encrid, pushing Krais's forehead with a tap, headed upstairs.

These were the people taking up one room.

In the middle, the leader of the spy unit was kneeling.

Torres stood next to the man with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

Three from Polide's side, and Leona was alone.

As Encrid stood by the Company Commander and Leona, the composition was finally set. Once Encrid arrived, Leona opened her mouth.

"I know he needs to be interrogated separately, but may I ask a few questions first?"

It was a question directed at Torres.

"Go ahead."

Torres's attitude had been the exact same from the first day until now.

He was always stiff toward anyone outside the Border Guard. Leona didn't really seem to care about that.

It was Leona who had been the assassination target. She had more than enough right to ask a few words first, even if it wasn't a full interrogation.

She was also the cause of all the problems.

Since the merchant association's succession issue was the starting point of everything.

The man had been beaten into a pudding.

Leona bent her knees and made eye contact with the man kneeling on the floor.

"Who put you up to this?"

"I-I don't know. All I know is to use available resources to target the lady in the inn..."

The man spoke clearly despite trembling. He seemed to have a premonition that he would be finished if he didn't speak properly.

"Is there any face you recognize in this room?"

The man looked around. He glanced at everyone, including Encrid, and shook his head.

They wouldn't have been stupid enough to step forward and order it themselves.

Usually, when orchestrating something like this, one would insert a few middlemen.

From then on, it would be time for interrogation.

The one who targeted Leona was Polide.

Once that was revealed, the issue of discussing the merchant association's successor would be over.

That was what Encrid expected.

"Oh my, it seems a few idiots who coveted my pouch gathered together and caused this mess."

Leona began to spout unexpected words.

"... What?"

The captured leader of the spy unit tilted his head.

"I didn't do it!"

And the idiot Polide showed off his wisdom.

He spoke without even properly listening to what Leona had said.

"Did anyone say you did?"

Leona retorted instead.

"Eh, ah, that's not it."

Polide's pupils shook violently.

She was slapping his cheek right off the bat during their first meeting, but now she was acting like this?

Encrid thought that even if he were in Polide's position, he would have been deeply flustered.

In the end, Polide stuttered, spitting out the most idiotic sound he could make with his tongue, unable to continue his words.

Torres furrowed his brows.

Aside from Polide, the people from the merchant association's side were surprisingly calm.

The situation flowed strangely.

Because everyone thought they would pin the crime on that guy named Polide.

"How bold."

The Company Commander whispered from behind. It was barely loud enough for only Encrid to hear.

Bold? What is?

Encrid couldn't easily understand the situation.

As he grew curious, his mind naturally rolled as he continued his thoughts.

Because there is always a reason when a person acts uniquely.

Of course, squad members including Rem would often do crazy things for no reason, but.

Leona wasn't Rem, after all.

Encrid reviewed the situation.

The Roquefried Merchant Association, Polide, Leona, the succession issue, the ambush within the Border Guard, the Border Guard member, the captured guy, Aspen's spy.

He organized what he knew and looked back. Only then did he realize something, prompting Encrid to nod inwardly.

It was a part he hadn't thought about because he was too deeply engrossed in sparring and training.

It was the moment he understood that.