The Fourth Platoon Leader tossed out some idle words. Enkrid answered vaguely, letting them flow past him as he sensed the man had something more to say.
“If you have something to say, just say it.”
He was drenched in sweat, now enjoying the cool breeze. This moment was perfect. A moment to enjoy the wind with a pleasant sense of exhaustion.
So he hoped the man would just say his piece and leave.
“... I’d like you to transfer to the reconnaissance team and carry out a mission.”
The Fourth Platoon Leader said, crossing his arms. His posture betrayed not the decisiveness of a commander, but a defensive attitude.
Enkrid thought.
The reconnaissance team. It wasn't a common assignment. Moreover, Enkrid himself knew his position was quite ambiguous.
The only reason he could remain a Squad Leader was because this was the 444 Squad. And they wanted to pull him out for the reconnaissance team?
“Are you sure about this? Taking our Squad Leader?”
Rem suddenly poked his head out from behind and spoke. Rem rested his chin on Enkrid’s shoulder. Since their heights weren't too different, it was a reasonably comfortable leaning posture.
“Are you serious?”
He asked with a half-smile, but it seemed more like a protest against taking Enkrid away.
“That’s an order, Rem.”
The Fourth Platoon Leader glared. It was a bluff. Enkrid saw it at a glance.
Rem was a troublemaker. A brute who would swing his axe if things went sour. Trying to assert a commander's authority against such a madman was meaningless.
The Fourth Platoon Leader knew it, Enkrid knew it, and Rem knew it too.
“Rem.”
Enkrid called his name to stop the axe-loving squad member before he could say anything more, shrugging his shoulder to push Rem back.
“Fine, whatever, do as you please.”
Rem grumbled and stepped back.
“I can go instead.”
Ragna, who had been watching quietly, said nonchalantly.
“... Was getting lost your dream for the future?”
Hearing this, Rem let out a chuckle. Ragna was about to flare up but suppressed his anger. It wasn't wrong.
Ragna had no talent for finding his way. No, he was the kind of guy who would end up somewhere else even if you handed him a map and explained it. It wasn’t as if he had a knack for coordinating with others either.
Hadn't he ended up here because he ignored orders and fought his own way in every squad he'd been in? There were too many issues with picking him as a scout.
“Anyone but you.”
Even the Fourth Platoon Leader could only shake his head at Ragna. Although this whole situation sounded like a bad sign to Enkrid.
‘All things considered, I am the right fit.’
His ambiguous position only had meaning when he was among the members of the 444 Squad. Just being away for a week had caused quite a stir. And yet, they were specifically calling for him?
It sounded like there was no one else to call. The talk about a curse had quickly died down. But the aftermath remained.
Bon, Jack, and Rotten were all part of the reconnaissance team. They were short on men.
“Sigh, this is a headache for me too. One of the platoon leaders has an upset stomach and can’t even move.”
It was enough to make one think it really was a curse. For such a thing to happen only to the reconnaissance platoon. The platoon leader looked exhausted.
He didn't seem particularly eager to call for Enkrid either.
‘There’s a strange sense of unease.’
As he thought this and stared intently, the platoon leader said.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’ll tell you everything.”
“Pardon?”
“I said don’t look at me with those eyes.”
‘What did I do?’
He was just looking, but the Fourth Platoon Leader was overreacting with a deep sigh.
“Hey, how can you curse at him with your eyes like that? It’s only sometimes, but you should consider the feelings of the person on the receiving end. Especially when it's your superior.”
Rem said with a giggle. Reacting to that joke would be endless. Deciding to just listen for now, he looked at the platoon leader again.
“It was an order to scout for personnel capable of reconnaissance missions from each unit on short notice because we had to arbitrarily promote a squad leader to a platoon leader to increase the number of reconnaissance personnel, but the numbers were still insufficient. Then things turned out this way because the higher-ups suggested including you.”
“The higher-ups?”
“The new company commander. You’re not on his bad side, are you?”
Since he knew a secret, they would send him to the reconnaissance team to silence him by having him die without a trace? No, if that was the case, why would they go through all this trouble? There was no reason.
They seemed skilled enough to kill him secretly. Even if not, there were many other ways. Not that he would die so easily, but that's how it would look from the other side's perspective.
So.
‘It seems like he just said it without much thought.’
That was Enkrid’s judgment.
“It’s an order from the higher-ups. So let’s just go.”
Beside him, Rem was glaring. Behind him, Ragna was saying he would go. Right in front of the barracks, a squad member a full head taller than an average soldier, who looked like he could beat a bear with his bare hands, was looking at the sky and praying to God.
“Most holy Lord, please do not take away my small and precious Squad Leader. Please do not test this small and frail servant.”
The Fourth Platoon Leader who heard this couldn't hide his bewilderment. Who said anything about taking him away? And who was small and frail?
The praying soldier’s biceps bulged and twitched. With a little exaggeration, his forearm was as thick as an average soldier’s thigh. Many people didn't notice unless they looked closely because he was tall with long limbs, but that soldier's forearm was a weapon in itself.
Therefore, if that devout soldier was frail, then truly healthy people must be rare in this world.
“This one time should be enough. Winter will be here soon, and then this campaign will be over.”
For the next campaign, the reconnaissance team would be reorganized anyway. They wouldn't place the 444 Squad Leader in the reconnaissance team then. Enkrid understood the platoon leader's words.
Few fools continue a war in winter. Thus, this war was also likely to stop after autumn passed. There was no need to dwell on it.
This kind of thing happened often. Being called in as a stopgap for various matters. His talent for fighting was lacking, but he was above average in other things.
Reconnaissance missions were no exception. However, perhaps because he had been absent from the barracks due to his injury, none of his squad members seemed to welcome his departure.
‘I am the right man for the job.’
It wasn't baseless confidence. If he died by taking a wrong turn, he could repeat the day. This mission would be more advantageous to him than to anyone else.
Recognizing and avoiding danger was his specialty.
“It’s an order. Fourth Squad Leader.”
The platoon leader said it was an order, but it sounded like he was asking for help. Enkrid looked back. Rem had started sharpening his axe.
Ragna once again expressed his opinion that he could go. The last squad member repeatedly muttered, “Are you truly giving me this trial?”
‘What an atmosphere.’
It felt like if he came back beaten up, they would all rise up together. Were they always like this? He didn't think so.
When he first joined the squad, they didn't seem to meddle in each other's affairs like this. Since when did it become like this?
‘Did you guys have a hard time while I was gone?’
Even Big Eyes was shaking his head. But what could he do about an order from above? His squad members might be reckless, but Enkrid wasn't. “I’ll have to go.”
He said after letting out a breath. It was a decision from the higher-ups. Insubordination was impossible from the start.
Well, if he used any means necessary, he could probably get out of it, but there was no need to go that far. Enkrid's single statement settled the mood. It was only natural.
No matter how much of a figurehead he was, he was the leader of this six-man squad.
“Do as you please.”
Rem snorted and replied.
“I said I could go.”
Ragna insisted to the end, but it was never going to work. A guy who gets lost even inside the camp as a scout? How would that work?
Enkrid was more amazed at how Ragna had survived his wandering life. Did he say he had been to the sea at the eastern end? A reasonable doubt arose: could he have gotten lost and ended up there?
Not that he would ask about it. Enkrid, as always, kept a moderate distance from them. If the other person doesn’t want it, he neither asks nor questions.
That was Squad Leader Enkrid.
“Alright, good.”
The Fourth Platoon Leader said and turned away. His steps were twice as light as when he arrived. It was as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
After the platoon leader left, while he was washing and resting, a small commotion started in the barracks from a single trivial remark.
“Are you still practicing what you’ve learned?”
The trouble began when Jacksen, half-reclined on his bunk, threw out the question. Jacksen’s bunk was at the very back. Enkrid’s was at the very front.
Everyone in the barracks heard Jacksen’s voice. Enkrid reflexively nodded his head. He had spent the repeated days learning hearing training from Jacksen, so he thought it was a fair question.
But Rem, upon hearing it, reacted with displeasure.
“Learned what?”
During that time, Enkrid had been in the hands of several squad members. He had learned a little something from Rem, from Ragna, and from the devout squad member. All of it was about ways to survive on the battlefield right now.
Enkrid learned diligently, but he couldn't master everything and mostly used it in a rough manner. Many of the skills were difficult to learn perfectly. At least now, the Heart of the Beast felt properly ingrained in his body.
But he had never learned anything from Jacksen before.
“What did you teach him?”
Rem, who had been lying down, sat up and asked.
“Be consistent. It will help.”
Completely ignored, something akin to flames ignited in Rem’s eyes.
“This bastard?”
“Don’t.” Enkrid grabbed the shoulder of the inflamed Rem.
“What did you learn from that sinister bastard? You’ll pick up bad habits if you learn just anything.”
“Hmph.”
Jacksen, listening to Enkrid and Rem’s conversation, let out a chuckle.
“Oh, right, hmm, your time has come. It’s today. You want to become food for the monsters wandering that plain, don’t you? Right?”
Jacksen continued to ignore him. Enkrid let out a deep sigh and pulled Rem’s arm.
“That’s enough. It’s not like we’re going to fight to the death.”
“Don’t you worry. I’ll be the one to survive.”
No, that’s not what I meant.
“Who’s going to survive?”
“Oh, God, may I send this foolish soul, lacking in faith, up to you? If you permit it, I shall do so.”
Ragna and the devout squad member reacted to Rem’s words.
“Stop, stop, stop. I’ll stop you no matter how many times you fight. Let’s not do anything pointless or waste our energy.”
Enkrid began to regret whether it was right to carry out the reconnaissance mission. Was it right to leave these guys behind?
“Don’t worry too much. They don’t usually see it through to the end. They just clash weapons a few times and then stop.”
Krais said as he counted the number of silver coins in his pocket. That was the problem. Those "few times" they clashed weapons.
To others, it looked like a fight to the death. Despite being such troublemakers, the commanders didn't kick them out.
The reason?
Naturally, it was because of their outstanding abilities. On the battlefield, these soldiers possessed superior combat power, each worth more than ten men. So it was right for him to be sent to the reconnaissance team.
‘My absence won’t even be a loss of combat power.’
But it was different for them. As soon as that thought crossed his mind, Enkrid once again realized his own shortcomings.
‘I have no talent.’
He had lost to a twelve-year-old kid. No matter how much of a genius that child was. A grown adult, unable to properly handle the weight of a sword, had staggered and lost to a child holding a sword.
It wasn't a matter of pride. Nor was it a reason for despair. It was merely an event that made him look back on himself.
Did he give up because of it? No. He chewed on that situation again and again, and all that did was make him accurately perceive himself. So, was this the end?
That too, was a no. If he had no talent.
‘Someday.’
If he couldn't take a full step, he would take half-steps. As long as he didn't stop moving forward, it would be fine. And Enkrid had never once stopped walking.
For some reason, sleep seemed unlikely to come, so Enkrid took his sword and went outside. He felt he needed to swing his sword and sweat a little to be able to sleep. Seeing this, Ragna got up and followed him.
“Let’s check your stance for the first time in a while.”
“What about me?”
Rem said, getting up late. Their eyes met, and a murderous aura passed between them. It felt like a whirlpool would form at the midpoint where their gazes clashed.
“Consistent practice will be helpful. More so than clumsy sword swings.”
Jacksen said from his bunk. The eyes of the two who were glaring at each other as if to kill, snapped towards Jacksen.
“Clumsy?”
Rem said.
“Sword swings?”
Ragna continued.
“Didn't you both say you'd look at my stance?”
Enkrid inserted himself between the three of them. After finally placating the two, Enkrid went outside the barracks. He swung his sword again and again, based on their advice that was half-nagging.
A day of being drenched in sweat passes. When the morning sun rises, he would have to leave, temporarily assigned to the reconnaissance platoon. He wasn't overly concerned.
He didn't think it would be a particularly difficult task. After sweating profusely, everyone's ill feelings seemed to have dissipated. Enkrid, who also felt refreshed after sweating and washing in a stream, fell into a sound sleep.
“Company Commander, why did you specifically put that friend on the reconnaissance team?”
The Elf Company Commander spoke upon seeing the First Platoon Leader standing near the torch stand.
“Move away from the torch stand. A fire could start if it falls.”
“Pardon?”
“To the side.”
“Yes, sir.”
The First Platoon Leader took a few steps to the side. The Company Commander’s tent was taller and wider than a regular tent. A single torch stand was placed in the upper center to provide light.
There was also a crude table for meetings. This was a meeting to decide the company’s reconnaissance routes. It was in the midst of this that the First Platoon Leader had asked.
It was a fair question. The First Platoon Leader also served as the Company Commander's aide. It was an old tradition of the Cyprus Division.
“He seems like a soldier who is quick-witted and knows how to survive, so I thought he would be a good fit.”
“Yes, I see.”
It wasn't a heavily weighted decision. It was a placement based on intuition. There was no particular reason.
If someone were to ask, the answer would have to be, just because. Of course, the Company Commander’s judgment was correct. The intuition of elves was sometimes sharper than the words of a prophet.