Chapter 81 Because He Always Does His Best

After the appearance of the man named Matthis.

"Why is she the guild master?"

Polid’s foolish question followed.

"Because while we were spending time here, everything was already settled within the guild. Oh, we decided to have the inauguration ceremony after we return."

Leona was the one who answered. After that, when Polid’s men began to grasp the situation and watch for cues, Leona gestured toward them.

"Come. I'll accept you."

She didn’t actually say these words, but to Enkrid’s ears, the meaning was no different. It was something like, let’s now live as one under the guild’s name. Two men did not move.

The man with the plain impression and the swordsman who had told Enkrid to drop his sword. Ah, Polid also remained. He dropped to his knees with a thud.

It looked as if the strength had left his legs.

"Why? I'm the son, aren't I? Everyone in the guild belonged to my father, didn't they?"

What other reason could there be? Seeing his actions, it was the intelligence of those who sided with Polid that was questionable. Enkrid’s gaze fixed on the two who remained.

It seemed they were the ones who had pulled the strings. The two didn't look like they were in any particular crisis. Even though everyone but them had turned their backs, they were unfazed.

"It's over." the swordsman said.

"Indeed." the man with the plain impression replied.

The two simply ignored Polid.

"I can't accept this! What is this! I'm the son!"

As Polid shouted and tried to approach Leona, Matthis blocked his path.

"One more step and I'll cut you down. Son of the former guild master."

He's sharp.

And with that, the situation was over. The two who looked to Enkrid like they had pulled the strings simply retreated. Polid gave a live demonstration of how a person changes when they fall into frustration, despair, and panic.

Having dropped to his knees on the ground, he began to drool. The kid's really shocked. The passing groups of peddlers, the city’s merchants, soldiers, and even the crowd of beggars near the gate were all watching them.

When a guard made a face as if wondering what to do, Leona stepped forward.

"Take him away. We can't let the former guild master’s son die drooling on the street."

"Yes."

When Matthis gestured outside, someone came in and dragged Polid away. The guard even cleared a path for them to leave easily.

"One moment."

Leona said to Matthis, then approached Enkrid.

"Did you give Carmen’s stiletto to your subordinate?"

Her tone of voice somehow made him feel as if he had given away a gift from a woman to someone else. Enkrid couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he felt a little uncomfortable.

"... He wanted it a lot. Yes, I gave it to him."

Glancing back, he saw Jacksen standing there silently. When he first gave him the stiletto, Jacksen’s reaction hadn't been typical. He knew Jacksen wouldn't be moved to the point of tears, but he had been merely nonchalant.

He had taken the stiletto and uttered just one thing.

"Why do you continuously train your five senses? How can you dodge a dagger flying from behind without seeing it?"

What was nonsense to one person could be the long-awaited answer for another.

"That's what you'll learn next."

That one sentence was enough. Jacksen was a man who knew how to make a deal.

"I see."

Leona smiled brightly and nodded. Even watching her smile, he felt somehow indebted. What a peculiar woman.

She gazed at Enkrid’s face and spoke again.

"I am a merchant, and a deal begins with knowing what the other party wants. I gave you an expensive item, but you gave it away to your subordinate."

"And even with two beautiful women present, you didn't turn your gaze."

Leona had to spend time in the Border Guard. In that spare time, she observed the coveted man. What does this man truly want?

He didn't even bat an eye at an item that was no different from a treasure. In fact, he showed a subtly weary expression when his subordinate told him about the dagger's origin. It’s not that he seems to have no greed, but he doesn't look like a man who would flounder in desire.

Leona knew well the power her appearance held. That was why she had shown subtly seductive gestures.

"He's a womanizer. Be careful."

There was an elf who intervened. And even when an opening appeared and she stepped forward, Enkrid did not fall for it. 'What is it that this man wants?'

From that point on, her pride as a merchant began to stir. What is a merchant? A person who makes deals happen.

Shepherds of the Wasteland, the Black Hide Guild, the Glacier Rangers. They were all reclusive groups. A merchant was someone who could open trade even with such places.

That was the Lockfreed way. Leona loved the Lockfreed Guild and took pride in it. Her target was a mere soldier, one you could call insignificant.

That was his station. 'He's on my mind.' She wanted him, but.

Still, there are always limits. But now, her pride was on the line as well. Leona began to observe him.

Only then did she see it. The basis of a deal: what the other party wants. 'It wasn't an object.'

The Carmen Collection was also the price shown to swallow the guild whole. While everyone’s eyes were on the dagger and they were worried about the group that launched the surprise attack, her resources were already managing the guild's internal affairs. She had also used it to gauge the greed of the man named Enkrid, but she had misjudged.

Only after observing him did Leona understand. What he desires is the future. His own future.

Better swordsmanship, skill, martial power. That was why she had called Matthis inside. The best warrior in the Lockfreed Guild, the escort captain who had once made a name for himself as a city-level mercenary.

"How about it? Training your sword under Matthis. Cultivating your future here?"

If he was drawn to training his body with strong people. This was the answer. Of course, it was a huge misunderstanding.

Leona did not know Enkrid’s squad members. 'He seems like a great man.' There was something Jacksen had said while Leona was sorting out the situation.

"He has enough skill to represent a small city. That's about it."

Without even intending to, just by showing his skills a few times, his name would naturally spread throughout the city. That was what a city-level expert was.

"Compared to Torres?"

"By the soldier ranking system standards, he's special-grade or higher, but not a knight."

Jacksen's assessment was cold. Those who were special-grade or higher, but not knights. 'Should I tell her my squad is full of them?'

Rem, Ragna, Jacksen, and Audin. It didn't seem like any of those four would lose to the man named Matthis. Moreover, he had already learned from them and proven himself.

"I refuse."

That was why there was no hesitation in his answer. For the first time, Leona failed to control her expression.

"This is the first time I've let something so coveted slip away."

Enkrid liked this resourceful young lady, this outstandingly beautiful guild master. 'Especially the fact that she doesn't make clumsy moves just because she likes me.' Come to think of it, wasn't it quite an interesting thing?

One of the people he met in this incident had told him to put down his sword. The other, finding him desirable, asked him to come to her side.

Contradictory evaluations.

"Do you absolutely have to keep me by your side?"

Enkrid's lips parted. The favor she held for him didn't feel so bad, so Enkrid treated her with favor in return. At his words, Leona blinked her eyes.

"That's true. The request is over. Then, shall we be friends? I think you could spend a day with a friend, don't you? How about it?"

It was a way of saying let's get along with a reasonable amount of goodwill, even if not quite as friends.

"... Pardon?"

"If you refuse this too, I think a pitiful girl might despair right here."

A pitiful girl? Who was the pitiful girl? She had just become the master who took over the Lockfreed Guild.

"Matthis, may I stay in the city for one more day?"

"As you wish."

Matthis stepped back.

"You'll need permission from your unit, won't you?"

In response to Leona’s following words, the company commander answered instead of Enkrid.

"As a reward for completing the request, I grant you a full day of leave."

It was an unexpected answer.

"Why? You don't like it?"

Leona asked with a mischievous smile. He was once again reminded of the power of her appearance. She was cute even when making that kind of face.

A spider who had swallowed a whole guild was making a cute face. While thinking this, Enkrid nodded his head.

"I don't dislike it."

He had met many instructors, and they all said the same thing. Rest when you rest. Swinging his sword day and night and abusing his body wasn't the only answer.

Enkrid knew this fact well. Above all, he felt a strange sense of debt and wanted to resolve it.

"Good. Then."

Leona turned back to Matthis. In the meantime, Jacksen approached, and seeing him, Enkrid spoke first.

"Don't spread any weird rumors."

"That's something you'd say to a barbarian. Do I look like I would do that?"

Enkrid once again thought it was a relief that he had brought Jacksen. If it had been Rem, even made-up stories would have spread.

"Good work, soldier."

The company commander proved that what he had said until now was a joke by not stopping Enkrid from being left alone with Leona.

"If you miss me, you can come back, soldier."

Still, he had to add an elf-style joke. Having heard it so often, he didn't even feel troubled anymore.

"Yes, I will."

As he calmly accepted it, Jacksen stealthily spoke from the side.

"Perhaps."

"Perhaps?"

"If she has more of the Carmen Collection, use your handsome face to get it."

This bastard, is he joking, or is he serious? It was harder to judge than the Elf Company Commander’s jokes.

"It's a joke."

It was a relief to hear him say it was a joke. No, but it seemed like he was half-serious. The Carmen Collection, hadn't he truly desired it?

"We will leave first."

Jacksen and the company commander left, and Leona, having sorted things out, returned.

"Let's go."

After that, Enkrid and Leona enjoyed their time together. They wandered through the market, and filled their stomachs under the guidance of Enkrid, who already knew the locations of good restaurants.

"This is really delicious."

After eating the herbal pie and Vanessa’s Pumpkin Soup, she even gave a thumbs-up. Vanessa’s Pumpkin Soup was the signature dish of the inn that boasted the best food among the four.

"This is delicious too."

He laughed at one of Leona’s jokes, and in return, Leona giggled at something Enkrid said. It was an unexpected time, but funnily enough, it was quite enjoyable. After the sun set, they had a drink or two.

"It was fun."

They spent the night together, but there was no physical intimacy.

"Good. We're friends starting today."

"Alright."

And so they became friends, chatting until morning before parting ways. Enkrid did wear a dazed expression from time to time, but it was clearly an enjoyable time for both of them.

"I wonder what's going on."

Matthis thought it was an incredibly rare event. Leona was a woman who didn't know how to rest. She was relentless, decisive, and exceptionally capable.

If that weren't the case, he wouldn't be in this position now. In other words, Leona was on a completely different level from that fool, Polid. 'That so-called son of the former guild master.'

He was so foolish that it was natural for rumors to spread that he was a picked-up child. From a young age, Leona had lived a life on a completely different track from Polid. For her to be tied down for a whole day by a single man?

It was a rare occurrence. Not that he didn't respect her for it. 'The future of the guild is bright.'

From now on, the Lockfreed Guild would head down a better path than when the former master was in charge. Matthis believed in Leona. After finishing her day of rest, the guild master returned with a look of relief.

"Let's go."

And so, the guild went on its way. She had honored the former guild master's last will to have a final word for the succession. But behind the scenes, she had done everything that needed to be done.

That was how Leona had swallowed everything. This was the answer she had shown. The former guild master had saved her and raised her.

By simply not killing Polid, she was repaying that kindness. Leona knew well that this was the true intent of his last will. In the carriage on the way back, she smiled as she recalled the previous night.

'It was fun.' How many times had she ever had a conversation with no profit to be gained? To engage in aimless chatter was quite an unfitting thing for her to do.

And yet. 'Enkrid.'

His name remained in her mind.

The man with the plain impression and the warrior who wielded a rapier left Polid's group and headed outside. No one stopped them. Though the man named Matthis glared at them fiercely.

"Let them be."

It ended with Leona's one sentence. The two walked out of the city gate just like that. The end of the season.

Even if winter was ending, the road was harsh for just two people to travel. Monsters could pop out at any moment. But the two didn't have such worries.

"Why did you do that?"

The two belonged to the same side. They were members of a single nation. The warrior with the rapier was an outstanding expert.

The kind of expert who wouldn't bat an eye at some ordinary monster. The man with the plain appearance knew of the warrior's indifferent personality, so this incident was strange to him. Giving advice to a passerby, someone who could be called a stranger at best and an enemy at worst.

"Watching him, I felt it would be a waste."

It's not like everything in the world ends cleanly. Things like this can happen.

"I see."

The plain man accepted it. It was time to return. They had failed in their scheme, but they had gained something.

The woman who was the next master of the Lockfreed Guild was exceedingly capable. Information was always precious.

Enkrid returned to the unit in the morning.

"Well, look who's on cloud nine."

Rem greeted him as soon as he arrived. He's already heard everything. He could tell from the first words.

"Was it good?"

It was easy to misunderstand. He had only talked with Leona. No matter what answer he gave here, nonsense would follow.

Rem was that kind of guy. Instead of answering, Enkrid picked up his sword.

"Sparring?"

"You tiresome fellow. Fine."

Rem didn't argue further and picked up his axe. He liked it when Enkrid returned and chose him as his first sparring partner. It was the same this time.

Enkrid stood facing Rem. And he mulled over the events of the day he spent with Leona. It was a strange thing.

It was a rest, a vacation. You could say he had completely rested, forgetting about the sword. He had chatted with Leona all night.

A series of chats, time that could be considered meaningless conversation.

But why?

'I think I can do it.' While spending time with Leona, Enkrid felt a strange sensation. It would be more correct to say he had perceived something.

It wasn't that time had slowed down, or his concentration had flared up to bring about some change. It just felt possible. It felt like he could show it effortlessly.

The trajectory of his sword swing, the step he took before that, the movement of his shoulder. Everything mixed together to produce a single answer. What is speed?

To the question he'd had since facing the swordsman who used a rapier, he felt he could now show, albeit clumsily, a part of the answer.