Chapter 82 - You Seem to Have Changed a Bit.

He had seen a lot in the meantime.

Especially regarding speed.

The swordsman behind that idiot Polide had been the catalyst.

But before that, there were the things he saw every day.

The moments he faced in every sparring session.

The axe swings that bent like a whip.

The sword of the swordsman who followed that idiot Polide.

Rem's axe swings.

The things he experienced and acquired on the battlefield.

The things he trained and agonized over alone all this time.

Even his body, changed by the isolation technique.

Everything integrated and settled into his mind.

An indescribable sensation took hold inside his body.

Encrid entered the state of Concentrate on a Single Point.

A world where only he and the sword remained.

Even the feeling in his grip faded away. All he could see were the lines connecting dots to dots.

What was needed was the muscle strength required to connect the lines.

The moment he saw the eyes of Rem facing him, he poured it out.

The drooping tip of the sword drew the shortest line connecting the dots.

The tip of the sword pierced the neck.

He saw an illusion. An illusion so clear he could mistake it for reality.

In the illusion, Encrid's sword pierced through Rem's neck.

Rem collapsed with a hole in his neck.

Blood flowed, soaking the floor.

The fallen Rem foamed blood at the mouth with his eyes wide open.

There was no resentment in those eyes. Only pure astonishment could be seen.

"Fuck, that was really fast just now."

He must have been incredibly surprised, as his remark starting with a curse broke and shattered Encrid's illusion.

The lingering scene of the illusion felt like it was cascading down in shattered glass shards.

Beyond the shattered glass, Rem with wide, surprised eyes came into view. The surprise was only brief. Soon, Rem's eyes curved softly.

They were the eyes of a child who had found a fun toy.

"What did you just do?"

Bloodstains were visible on the neck of Rem, who was asking. It was because the blade had grazed him.

"I almost kicked the bucket."

At the successive words, Encrid opened his mouth.

"Sorry, I almost killed you."

"... I never thought I'd say this myself, but our Squad Leader has grown a damn lot, really."

"Aren't I originally older anyway?"

Encrid was taller, too.

"Geez. You're an amusing guy."

Along with his words, Rem abruptly thrust his axe.

When Encrid reflexively turned his head to avoid it, the axe blade started following along Encrid's cheek.

A continuation of the sparring.

After that, Encrid had to hover halfway between life and death against Rem's axe swings.

"Did you realize what it means to swing fast? Good. Let's do it more."

'What is this? Is it because he got a scratch on his neck? It feels like half of this is fueled by a grudge?'

Even so, Encrid did not back down.

"Are you hesitating because you think you might kill me again? Don't worry. I'll kill you first."

Rem's eyes gleamed fiercely. Afterward, his arm became a ray of light, not a whip.

The axe blade, which he had barely been dodging, blocking, and parrying until now, suddenly touched the back of Encrid's neck.

Without even leaving a scratch on the skin.

*TAP. * The axe blade lightly tapped his neck and withdrew. Since the edge wasn't sharp, it didn't leave a wound. Only the cold sensation of the axe blade remained.

"If you can't perfectly control the weapon in your hands, you're a half-wit."

Those were the words Rem left behind as he signaled the end of the sparring. Lying flat on the freezing ground, Encrid sorted through what he had gained from the sparring just now.

What is speed?

The conclusion he reached right now was trajectory, the line of movement.

It was the motion of instantly drawing a line connecting dots.

What was needed for that, to draw the line in his mind, and what else was needed to manifest the drawn line as it was?

The body. The body had to keep up. Therefore, physical conditioning was necessary.

Why did the axe seem to bend like a whip?

'Muscle strength, trained muscles, athletic ability.'

Weren't these the things Audin had told him to build up in his body all this time?

It was the same as what he gained through the isolation technique.

Muscle strength was the foundation.

The foundation for the act of stabbing or swinging the sword in his hand faster than ever.

On top of that, he would incorporate the concept of the line of movement.

Because he would realize it in an instant right after drawing the line connecting the dots in his head.

'This is speed.'

The Oniak Sword Technique.

It was a part of its Swift Sword Technique. Encrid laughed while lying on the ground.

"Pfft."

Even though he hadn't repeated today.

Even though he hadn't repeated his deaths.

Even though he hadn't met the Boatswain of the Black River.

'A sword for tomorrow.'

Because he realized his own growth.

Above all, he felt even prouder because he hadn't learned it from someone else, but realized it on his own.

It was a life where he only ever heard that he had no talent. When had he ever imagined experiencing something like this in such a life?

'I can do more.'

Because he could see the path forward, Encrid's heart pounded.

Afterward, he delved into the words Rem had left behind.

Review and contemplation.

It was a time to sink inward.

"If you don't want to freeze to death, it would be best to come inside."

The voice directed at Encrid lying on the ground was Jaxon's. He seemed to be coming in from outside.

Jaxon, with his usual apathetic expression, approached with the heated leather cloak draped over his shoulders fluttering in the wind.

Encrid nodded while still lying down and got up.

He sheathed his drawn sword and stretched his stiff neck side to side.

As he got up and headed into their quarters, he suddenly got goosebumps all over his body and felt a bone-chilling sensation.

The muscles all over his body tensed up sharply. It was a reaction from the realm of instinct.

Reflexively turning his body around, he drew his sword once again.

CLANG!

The friction sound of the blade and the scabbard rang out.

Encrid realized he had been holding his breath without knowing it, and only then did he exhale and look at his opponent.

The epicenter of the bloodlust was three steps behind him. Jaxon was merely standing normally as always.

The only difference from before was that his right arm was hanging down.

"Not bad."

Looking at Encrid like that, Jaxon said.

Encrid couldn't understand in the slightest what exactly wasn't bad.

However, he knew that Jaxon had done something.

Could the mere act of exuding bloodlust really constrict a person so terrifyingly?

"Carmen's Stiletto is a very good dagger."

Jaxon opened his mouth again. Only then did Encrid realize that Jaxon was trying to keep his word.

["What is the purpose of continuously training the five senses? How can one dodge a dagger flying from behind without even seeing it?"]

Those were the words Jaxon had said.

And what he had just shown must be the price of the stiletto.

"When hardening one's will to kill an opponent, momentum unwittingly carries over. That is also called bloodlust."

Momentum, bloodlust, fighting spirit, will.

They were all similar concepts.

Encrid thought of the guard of the merchant association named Mattis.

He had raised his momentum while stating his name. That alone had gathered everyone's attention.

Through that, Jaxon had evaluated the opponent as a city-class powerhouse.

"It is the method of sensing bloodlust. What I showed just now was practically at a level where even a passing little kid would feel it and freak out, so it is natural that you felt it. Continue to feel it. Feel it with everything, including your five senses. That is exactly the next stage of 'Sense of the Blade', the 'Sixth Sense'."

THUMP.

His heart pounded once again.

Just as much as when he established the concept of speed.

"I understand."

He answered calmly, but his heart, possessing boldness, beat continuously.

Because this, too, was so enjoyable it drove him crazy.

If there was a biggest change that happened to Encrid while repeating today, it would be this aspect.

That every single day had become boundlessly enjoyable.

The joy of growth, which he had never felt before, became the carrot and the stick, pushing Encrid's back.

Telling him he could do more, that he didn't have to stop here.

'For what purpose.'

The goal was also clear.

Knight.

The dream remained a shining star, glowing inside Encrid's chest.

"Let's go inside."

Jaxon said so and went into the quarters first.

And when Encrid followed him inside.

"Have you done your daily conditioning?"

Audin asked.

"Not yet."

This, too, was something he had to do. Before doing it, it was painful because it was an act of throwing his whole body into a sea of pain, but at the same time, it wasn't painful.

Because the fruit that would fall into his mouth after crossing the sea of suffering was far too sweet.

The suffering gained from squeezing his body transformed into joy.

"Let's begin."

Afterward, he started the isolation technique with Audin.

After finishing his conditioning, he washed his exhausted body and returned to lie in bed, only to see that Esther had laid on his bed first.

She had gathered her front paws in front of her chest and rested her head quietly on top of them.

Encrid reached out his hand and tried to stroke Esther's head.

SWIPE!

Just as his fingertips were about to touch the crown of her head, Esther scratched the back of his hand and backed away.

If Esther had swung her claws with real intent, she could have severed his wrist instead of just scratching the back of his hand.

Therefore, it would be right to see what she just did as a cute tantrum.

However.

"Why are you acting like this again?"

He just didn't know the reason.

Seeing that, Krais giggled from the side.

"I know, right? Actually, she's been like that ever since hearing the Devilish Squad Leader song."

It seemed those idle bastards had ended up enthusiastically belting out a song called Devilish Squad Leader.

"Yoo-hoo, the one who will lay down every woman in the city!"

"The hunter who targets every woman walking by!"

"Devilish, devilish, Devilish Squad Leader!"

Krais started the first verse, and Rem chimed in.

Both the lyrics and the melody were a mess. Honestly, it was hard to call it a real song, but...

HISS.

Whatever the reason, Esther seemed to very, highly, incredibly hate that song.

As she immediately let out a venomous yowl the moment she heard the song.

'Is it because of Krais?'

Krais was terribly bad at singing. Surprisingly, Rem tended to project straight with a manly voice, making him somewhat decent to listen to.

"What about the Company Commander? Another woman? Devilish Squad Leader."

Ragna asked from the side. He looked genuinely curious, but that bastard was also just utterly sincere about teasing him.

"Shut up."

Rather than clearing up the misunderstandings one by one, it was better to quietly wait for the rumors to die down.

Bringing it up unnecessarily would only add more fuel to the fire.

"So did you do it, or not?"

Still, he had to answer this. It was an issue related to Leona's honor as well.

"I didn't."

"... Um, are you serious?"

"There's no reason to lie about something like this."

And what if they had slept together?

That was true. There was no need to pointlessly cover this up with lies. Knowing Encrid's personality, Rem also knew that what Encrid said was the truth.

"Are you a eunuch? When did it get chopped off? Is that why?"

This bastard, seriously.

"It is alright. Devilish Brother, God loves everyone. He loves you even if it's chopped off."

Audin added a word to that.

But why was 'Devilish' attached in front of 'Brother'?

"Pfft."

Krais laughed.

Jaxon looked away, suppressing the corners of his mouth from rising.

Ragna spat out, "Then what did you do with the Company Commander?" which rarely provoked Encrid's anger.

"Crazy bastards."

None of the squadmates were normal. Encrid felt pitiful that he was the only normal person in here.

What was the point of getting angry?

They were guys who wouldn't bat an eye anyway.

Taking comfort in the thought that this was better than them fighting among themselves, Encrid lay down on his bed.

It was after they had united to tease Encrid for quite a while.

"You seem to have changed a bit."

Rem said abruptly, looking at the lying Encrid.

"I'm of the same mind."

Ragna added. The rest just listened closely.

*'Changed?' * Encrid thought at Rem's words.

'Have I changed? In what way?'

"Lately, you keep smiling strangely. And it doesn't seem like that's all there is to it."

'Did I not smile much before?'

Encrid thought back to his past self once again.

How had he been? He couldn't remember well, but one thing was certain.

That he was struggling desperately then, just as he was now.

However, if he had been navigating through a pitch-black darkness where he couldn't see an inch ahead back then...

Now, he could faintly see the path laid out in front of him.

Seeing that path gave him a joy that those with talent could never imagine.

"I knew you were originally a guy crazy for swords, but still, it seems a bit excessive lately. The smiling too, and your skills have drastically improved. Anyway, you've changed."

It was an assertion with flimsy reasons, but the other squadmates agreed with it.

"You do seem a little crazier than before."

Krais decorated the finale, but...

Encrid couldn't agree with those words in the slightest.

Where else could one find someone as easygoing and ordinary as him?

He just invested a little more time in conditioning and training, and his dream was a little bigger than others'.

"I'm not saying it's a bad thing."

Rem added. Encrid ignored him. It was night. It was time to sleep.

Not time to chatter.

Afterward, Jaxon and Krais vacated the quarters due to their shift.

Encrid quickly fell asleep.

As he felt every day, just as he had grown accustomed to overworking his body, exhaustion always rushed in.

Even so, his body felt quite light when morning came.

Had his basic stamina increased?

He didn't know. It seemed to happen more recently than before.

'Since when was that again?'

He couldn't remember exactly, but it was recent. Recently, not long after returning to the battlefield.

* * *

Esther found the other party detestable.

'Whenever he goes out, something happens with a woman.'

Even inside the unit, things happened. They were together because there was business, but how could he turn his eyes to another woman while leaving her aside?

She was someone who was once called the epitome of seduction and charm, even without any spells.

Men used to line up offering their souls just from her walking by.

'Even that Fairy is unsightly.'

She continued her train of thought before startling in shock.

It was the moment she realized her own form, transformed into a panther. What man would fall for her looking like this?

Furthermore.

'Why am I acting like this?'

She felt it was truly a completely unnecessary, trivial thought.

Her goal was clear. To neutralize the damn thing placed on her body.

Esther moved for that very purpose.

So she had to push aside trivial thoughts like the ones she had right now.

Esther climbed down from her share of the heated leather and lightly crossed the center of the barracks.

"Going again?"

It was the barbarian next to that sleeping guy, Encrid.

"You look like a sulking brat."

The barbarian spat out profane words, but Esther ignored him.

She clearly recognized what she had to do.

Therefore, there was no room for personal feelings to intervene here.

Just like that, the panther lightly leapt and soundlessly burrowed into Encrid's embrace.

Within his embrace, the panther pointlessly poked Encrid's chest once with her claw.

"It hurts. Let's sleep. Esther."

Encrid hugged her body closer.

'This shameless bastard.'

Esther sneaked a glance at Encrid's face, and soon, remaining in contact with the man's bare skin, she sucked out a portion of the fatigue left in his body and blew it away into the air.

It wasn't a trick that could be done easily.

In truth, it wasn't at a level that was incredibly helpful, but.

If he overworked his body like crazy every day like this man did, it would be quite meaningful.

And one more thing here.

She had also tampered with his leather armor.

Even if it was only a one-time use, she made it so it would block magic at least once if someone tried to harm him with it.

Because of that, getting her own body back would be delayed a little, but.

'Because this bastard needs to stay intact.'

Therefore, this was an act born out of necessity. She was looking at it from a long-term perspective.

Even while thinking so, Esther grew intoxicated by the tranquility and warmth provided by the man's embrace.

In her half-asleep state, she continued her vain thoughts once more.

'I'll believe those words.'

The words that he wouldn't dare do anything with another woman while leaving her aside.

Because those words felt like the truth.

Actually, she didn't feel too bad about it.