Enkrid let out a silent sigh of relief as he looked at the staggering Recon Squad Leader.
‘Barely managed that one.’
The trick of knocking the sword away with the back of his hand only succeeded five times out of ten. Well, he had gotten a little more used to it as he did it. It was only possible because he had become familiar with this man's particular habits.
If not for that, it was a trick he wouldn’t have dared to attempt so easily. But that was purely from Enkrid's perspective. To an onlooker, it simply looked like an overwhelming difference in skill.
He had knocked away the approaching blade without so much as blinking and struck the man’s solar plexus, rendering him unable to fight. Wasn't that a feat impossible to display without an overwhelming gap in skill?
“You’re a bottom-rank soldier?”
How many times had he heard that now? It was getting tiresome.
“I haven’t taken the promotion test. I didn’t think I needed it.”
Having perfectly answered the question that was sure to follow, Enkrid twisted his stiff wrists left and right. There was no problem. He had done all the necessary training while swinging his sword all this time.
Strength training was a given. In terms of pure strength, Enkrid was well-trained enough to be ranked quite high within the unit. That was why this result was possible.
“From now on, I am the Squad Leader.”
Enkrid declared.
He had now crossed one mountain. The Recon Squad Leader didn't even try to argue. He seemed to be staring with a blank gaze, then mumbled, “Tha, you, uh,” before closing his mouth.
There was no one who didn't follow. The soldier with the intimidating face, who was implicitly the next most influential after the squad leader, quietly followed Enkrid. It was as expected.
After that, the journey to find a breakthrough continued.
“Enri, what’s your dream?”
Enkrid changed the formation and took the lead, walking with Enri by his side. This was after the whole commotion had died down. Enri felt like his mind was about to go blank, but he quickly collected himself at Enkrid’s words.
“Pardon?”
“I’m asking if there’s something you want to do.”
Enri blinked a few times, then, perhaps flustered, voiced a rather detailed wish.
“Uh, well, to survive this and start a life with the widow from the flower shop.”
That's right.
Everyone has their own goal.
“First, we have to get back alive. How about you?”
He immediately turned his head and asked the person behind him. Andrew was right behind Enkrid. The first thing Enkrid had done after changing the formation was to place Andrew right behind himself.
He even let him keep his weapon. Watching this, Enri thought. This man, Enkrid, is truly fearless.
What if Andrew stabbed him in the back out of resentment? Even if Enkrid got stabbed, he could just start the day over, but Enri didn't know that. Andrew, who had been asked the question, let out a deep sigh.
“Fine. I admit I lost,” he said.
“I asked what you want to do, soldier.”
A demotion from Squad Leader to soldier. No one raised any objections. He had shown the difference in skill far too clearly.
“To restore my family’s honor.”
A fallen noble, he had said.
“Then you’ll have to get back alive first, too,” Enkrid said.
Everyone stared, wondering why the newly appointed Squad Leader was acting this way. He continued to repeat the same question and gave the same answer.
“You have to get back alive to earn money, too.”
That was his response to a soldier whose dream was to save money and open a shop.
“Your girlfriend is pregnant? If you don’t want to raise a fatherless child, you have to go back too.”
One of the thug soldiers was already a father-to-be.
“Everyone’s on the same page, then,” Enkrid continued.
“Let’s all try to get back alive.”
Everyone truly could not understand why this man was acting this way. Yet, no one argued. Enkrid made eye contact with each of them, one by one.
Normally, this would be a meaningless gesture, but hadn't he already planted the seeds with his earlier words? The soldiers, including Andrew, each recalled what they had left behind. Enkrid wanted them to find a sense of purpose on their own.
Although it had started with violence and coercion, they now needed to fight well by themselves. It was a method he had tried countless times. Planting the craving for life within their hearts.
This was a rather effective tool. Ten people breaking through as one was far more advantageous than him breaking through alone. No, at this rate, it might even be worth attempting an ambush instead of just an escape.
Once an ambush began, the situation could change completely.
‘I think it’ll work.’
If he could just see a possibility, he could try it as many times as needed. He could do it, as long as he was prepared for death. Through several trials and errors, Enkrid memorized the enemy’s positions and numbers.
Another today of knocking down the Squad Leader several more times passes.
“What’s your dream?”
Another today of repeating the same words passes. It might have been tedious, but Enkrid spent each repeating today just as faithfully. What he gained from all this came down to two key things.
The ambush and the flagpole.
‘Let’s do this.’
After all those todays, this was the now. He had practiced enough in the countless repeated todays.
“Let’s all get back alive.”
When Enkrid looked back, the entire reconnaissance squad nodded their heads. Although they all thought this wasn’t such a dangerous mission. Still, hearing him say it over and over did stir something in their hearts.
“Then let’s go.”
What he learned through sparring was more or less ingrained in his body. To the point where he no longer needed to repeat today. Enkrid did not move cautiously.
There was no need. He had already roughly memorized the enemy’s positions.
“Have you been here before?”
Enri, the former prairie hunter, asked. He was at the front, standing side by side with Enkrid.
“A few times.”
It would be stranger if he said he hadn't. After all, he was forging ahead on the path without any hesitation.
“Ah, I see.”
After walking a little more, Enri asked again.
“Are you perhaps a former hunter?”
“Not really, but I learned a bit from a hunter I know.”
He said that because he could read tracks and tell which way the grass was bent. And of course, the one who taught Enkrid these things was Enri. As he led the way, he looked back and saw the nanny-like soldier sticking close to Andrew’s side.
With that face, if he really became a nanny, the kids would probably scream and run away. But on the battlefield, he would be a superb bodyguard. Looking at Andrew and the nanny soldier, Enkrid thought.
‘When a battle breaks out, the soldier with the mean face will definitely follow Andrew.’
Even as he walked, he mentally retraced the escape route he had found through deep thought, over and over again. The moment they reached their destination, Enkrid raised his right fist to halt the squad members.
“Hoo.”
He took a deep breath where they stopped. Everyone’s eyes gathered on him, wondering why they had stopped here. They were just at the entrance to the tall-grass field.
But not a single person opened their mouth first. Enkrid was a coercive Squad Leader. He never consulted them on the direction or route of movement.
He was dictatorial. Not that it was necessarily a bad thing. The purpose of a patrol mission was to look around a certain area anyway.
If it were an important reconnaissance mission, the appropriate personnel would have been assigned, but by the looks of it, the importance of this unit’s role didn’t seem very heavy. In other words, it meant they just had to do what was necessary and go back.
“Shoot.”
Enkrid ordered, pointing to one side. Enri, holding his crossbow, stared blankly at Enkrid. Flustered, Enri asked back, “Pardon?
At what?”
It was the same thing every time. It couldn’t be helped. They hadn't experienced the repeated todays.
“Shoot. I won’t say it twice.”
Enri was not a slow-witted person. Enkrid’s tone was cold, imbued with a will that would not tolerate any counterarguments. The place he pointed to was beyond the tall grass.
Nothing was visible. He didn’t particularly feel any presence either. Still, he did as he was told.
He had seen Enkrid fight. It was clear he was not the pushover the rumors suggested. He drew the bowstring, nocking a bolt to the string, and the bowstring stretched taut.
Enri glanced around before releasing the string towards the direction Enkrid’s finger was pointing. Because the Squad Leader ordered it. With a fwing, the bolt flew, and a sound of it sinking into something was heard.
At the same time, a short scream, “Ugh!”
“... Huh?”
Enri was bewildered. At this moment, only two people were not surprised. The veteran soldier with the nasty face, and Enkrid.
“Follow me. Andrew.”
He had placed Andrew right behind him for this very moment. A soldier whose practical combat experience was terrible, but whose skills were quite decent. If his skills weren't bad, shouldn’t he be put to good use?
The mistake he had made in the todays past was trying to solve everything by himself. Now he knew that he didn't have to. As Enkrid dashed forward, Andrew reflexively followed him, and then the soldier with the intimidating face spat out a curse, “Damn it,” and followed right after.
When the three soldiers reached the other side of the tall grass, they saw a corpse with a bolt embedded in the center of its forehead. And a group of soldiers milling about around it. It was Azpen’s crossbowmen.
There were about ten of them. From the very beginning, Enkrid pulled out his deadliest move.
A thrust.
Planting his left foot and twisting, the tip of his sword pierced an enemy soldier’s throat.
“Gack!”
Blood trickled down from the spot where the blade was stuck. The man with a hole in his throat raised a hand to grab the sword. Enkrid immediately kicked the dead soldier’s stomach with the sole of his foot and pulled the sword out.
A black hole appeared where the sword was pulled from, and from that hole, crimson blood gushed out with a gurgle. In that instant, Andrew, right beside him, swung his shortsword down. A quick glance showed his sword strokes were quite clumsy.
He was clearly flustered by the sudden order to follow. He had merely swung reflexively upon seeing the enemy.
Clang!
The enemy soldier, who had thrown away his crossbow, drew a dagger and blocked.
‘Clumsy.’
But it was fine. He brought Andrew here partly for the optional extra that came with him. The soldier with the intimidating face moved.
He didn't shout a battle cry, nor did he make any exaggerated movements. He moved behind the soldier who had blocked Andrew's shortsword, grabbed the enemy’s chin with his right hand and cupped the back of his head with his left, then twisted his hands violently in opposite directions.
Crack!
The enemy soldier’s head was twisted to an angle that should not be possible. He was, of course, dead. The soldier with the intimidating face then drew the shortsword from his waist and spun around like a top.
Whoosh.
His shortsword sliced across the exposed neck of a soldier behind him, between the helmet and breastplate. The cut skin on the neck split open for a moment.
Pssh. Pssshh-shhh.
A jet of blood spurted from the severed neck. Seeing this, Enkrid also kicked the ankle of an enemy soldier next to him. The enemy soldier, who was wary of the sword in his hand, tumbled sideways.
Enkrid kicked the fallen soldier’s head.
Thwack! Crack.
The man’s neck bone snapped and he let out a strange groan as he was knocked out.
“A-Ambush!”
“Enemy soldiers!”
Only then were the startled shouts of the enemy soldiers heard. And only then did the rest of Enkrid's squad, including the thug soldiers who knew how to fight, join the fray from behind him.
“Kill them all,” Enkrid said.
Ping!
As soon as he finished speaking, Enri’s bolt flew. The bolt flew and struck the chest of the soldier in front of Enkrid. The flying bolt pierced the enemy’s padded armor with a thud and red blood began to flow out.
“You son of a-” The enemy soldier tried to open his mouth.
Enkrid couldn't hear the rest of the words he was about to spit out. Because he immediately thrust his sword and made a hole in the man’s neck.
“Hoo.”
He exhaled, letting the muscles that had moved violently in a short time rest. Meanwhile, the clanging sound of steel rang out. He didn’t have to face them all alone.
He was about to turn, mulling over this newly realized fact.
Haaak!
A grating sound came from three steps away. It was a sight he had seen many times. The cry of a beast, full of wariness.
He turns his eyes. And confirms its identity. He saw pitch-black fur.
That being was the reason why some of the enemy crossbow unit stationed here had been careless. Enkrid had scouted several places to ambush during his repeated todays. He chose this place as the most advantageous ambush spot, even sacrificing his life to find it.
The reason was right there. That small beast wandering in the grass must have drawn the attention of the crossbow unit. It was a creature worthy of that.
He already knew. It wasn't intentional, but it was a helpful presence. The owner of the pitch-black fur looked at Enkrid with blue eyes.
Enkrid’s blue eyes looked back at it. Their eyes meet. He saw one of the enemy soldiers click his tongue and thrust his short infantry spear downwards.
It was aimed at the black-furred beast.
‘I owe it one.’
He had no intention of letting it die. Enkrid swept his hand across his chest and then stretched his arm forward. His extended arm stopped with all fingers straight, his hand perpendicular to the ground.
In tune with that series of movements, the knife tucked in his chest flew through the air. The knife flew with a ping and lodged itself somewhere in the enemy's shoulder. Thanks to that, the man with the short spear faltered.
Kyaaaaang!
In that gap, the beast, which was at most half the size of a forearm, let out a terrifying scream and bit into the enemy soldier’s calf.
Pak!
Flesh and blood splattered. That wasn't the end. The beast clawed at the spot it had bitten with its front paws.
Blood smeared on its fur and claws, making them glisten as it gouged the wound. After digging in, it quickly dodged away.
“You son of a bitch!”
The enemy soldier with the torn calf stabbed at the ground with his short spear, but the black-furred beast had already moved away.
‘What a creature.’
A spirit beast. An incredibly clever and fierce young black panther. The enemy soldier with the knife in his shoulder died at the hands of the soldier with the intimidating face before he could even struggle.
He appeared behind the enemy soldier and slit his throat with a skill that showed it was not the first time he had done it. The screams stop. The last remaining enemy soldier was killed by Andrew.
A quick glance revealed that he had repeatedly stabbed the torso with his shortsword, knocked him to the ground, and then gouged his face. After killing the enemy like that, Andrew gasped for breath. He wasn't the only one.
The sound of heavy breathing could be heard from all around.
“Hah, hah, hooo, hoo, shit, what was that?”
A startled ally asks. His face was familiar, but Enkrid couldn't remember his name. Instead, Enkrid’s eyes searched for the body of an ally among the dead soldiers.
That one dies no matter what. This time, it seemed he was stabbed in the face by an enemy's short spear. A ghastly sight.
He had tried to save that guy many times, but whenever he was saved, he would always desert in the middle of things to save his own skin, messing everything up. A fact he knew through the repeated todays.
“Enemy soldiers. Did you not know this could happen on a patrol mission? Don't forget. We have to get back alive.”
Enkrid once again drew out their desire for life and led the squad members.
“This way.”
Then, the soldier with the intimidating face stopped Enkrid with his words.
“That's deeper inside, Squad Leader.”
“Insubordination? You should have done that earlier if you were going to defy me.”
Enkrid crushed the opposing opinion and silently moved on. As if there were no other option but to follow. It was unspoken pressure and coercion.
It had to be this way. There was no time to explain everything. As he ran, he glanced to the side and saw the eyes of the young black panther.
Eyes like a deep blue lake. Enkrid looked at the eyes, a color similar to his own, and then turned his head away. Now was the time to struggle for survival above all else.
Not a time to commune with a beast.