Man-faced hounds.
They were creatures that fell somewhere between a monster and a demonic beast. A four-legged monster with a face like an old man. Or a canine beast with a face resembling that of a human.
In truth, what did it matter? Monsters and beasts were creatures that preyed on humans. They were nothing more than targets to be killed.
No one knew where monsters and beasts came from. But from the moment Enkrid was born, no, from the very existence of this world, the threat of monsters and beasts had been present. Ghouls, harpies, skeletons, their kinds were varied.
The difference between monsters and beasts was simple. While beasts resembled animals, monsters each displayed their own unique characteristics. Among them, the man-faced hound was a creature that fell somewhere between beast and monster, losing all fear when they formed a pack.
“Advance.”
At a glance, the pack numbered over fifty. The man-faced hounds were scattered about, letting out guttural growls. As soon as he spotted them, the commander of the heavy infantry gave the order.
Heavy infantry, the most expensive type of soldier to both equip and train. Their heavy gear reduced their mobility, and for the same reason, they could neither throw javelins nor become archers. The weight of their armor restricted dynamic movements, making swift charges impossible.
But with their bodies fully protected by armor, their kite shields, and the long spears jutting out from between them. With these alone, the heavy infantry displayed overwhelming efficiency in open-field battles. It was the same now.
The steps of the heavy infantry crossing the wasteland were slow. They did not kick up much dust. They simply advanced, one calm, steady step at a time.
Yet there was nothing the pack of man-faced hounds could do. The primary weapon of a man-faced hound was its claws. And those claws were of no use.
‘An overwhelming victory.’
Even harpies playing in the sky could not inflict damage on the heavy infantry; a pack of man-faced hounds stood no chance of being a worthy opponent.
Thud!
Swinging their claws only resulted in them being blocked by shields. Even if one occasionally managed to slip a claw through a gap between the shields.
Clang.
It would only leave a scratch on the plate-reinforced armor. Moreover, not even one in ten man-faced hounds managed such a feat. Most were simply stopped by the advancing shield wall of the heavy infantry.
“Kaaah!”
The grating scream of a man-faced hound erupted. One that had struck a kite shield with its forepaw had its side pierced by a long spear that shot out from between the shields, its torso impaled.
As the man-faced hound’s body dangled from the spearhead, the soldier in the front line pushed it off with his shield, neatly pulling the spear free. The monster with a hole in its side tumbled to the ground. Its yelping shriek soon became a death rattle.
For a heavy infantry soldier stepped on it as he passed, crushing it to death.
Squish, squish.
Considering their weight, stepping on them was an excellent way to confirm the kill. Block with the shield, thrust with the long spear. It was a simple but effective strategy.
Their opponents were not men, but monsters. There was nothing to be done about it. While the heavy infantry dealt with the pack of man-faced hounds.
The special task forces, the frontier garrison, who had taken the hill to the left, rained down ranged attacks. Longbowmen and a crossbow unit. Five longbowmen and fifteen crossbowmen.
They sealed off one side, pouring out arrows and bolts, forcing the man-faced hounds to funnel in one direction. And the side they were driven to was blocked by the heavy infantry. Enkrid and Rem did not just watch either.
From somewhere behind the fifty-strong pack of man-faced hounds, more were continuously emerging to join them.
“I reckon those are ours to take!”
Rem said, his voice more excited than ever. Enkrid answered by moving his feet. He had, in fact, charged out even faster than Rem.
The excitement in his chest had not yet subsided. A time to swing his sword again and again, to prove what had become second nature to his body. He was in the midst of realizing the value of such moments.
He fought with his life on the line, but he did not feel like he would die. When had he ever had an experience like this? It made Enkrid feel strange.
Among a mere dozen or so man-faced hounds, he did not feel like he would die, so there seemed to be no threat of death. Why did he feel this certainty? Was it because Rem was with him?
He didn’t think so. Thinking was for later.
He ran.
With a speed and dynamism the heavy infantry could never show. With boldness and focus. He dropped his waist mid-stride and swung his sword.
The blade flew parallel to the ground.
Shlick! Thwack!
The snout of the first man-faced hound to greet him was severed, and the sword, having cut through its snout, continued its swing and struck another hound’s head. The second one, the one hit in the head, had its eye and forehead burst open.
He had dealt with two of them in the single motion of drawing and swinging his sword. Enkrid planted his left foot into the ground to brake, then took a step. Using his left foot as a pivot, he pulled his right foot back behind it, instantly turning his body sideways.
As he turned, he raised his sword vertically and brought it down. It was a vertical cut of the Northern Heavy Sword technique, one that could have come straight from a textbook.
Crack!
The head of the man-faced hound caught in its path was split open. His heart pounded like a mad drum. He cut and swung the sword.
He looked forward again and punched an approaching hound in the head, then for the one that tried to bite his shin in the meantime, he drove the tip of his sword straight down, punching a hole in its skull. The sensation of shattering its cranium lingered in his hand.
They wouldn't give him a moment to pull out his sword, but from the side, an axe flashed, tracing an arc. It was Rem. A hearty charge and a hearty slash.
Those caught by his axe were mercilessly decapitated, whether it was their torsos or their heads. Enkrid turned his eyes to the charging pack of monsters. A sight that would have filled him with fear before, but not anymore.
He could fight calmly because his heart beat with courage. His mind was colder than ever. While busy constantly recalling the best path to cut down the charging monsters, he calculated where to move to gain an advantage.
His mind was cold, but conversely, his heart was hotter than ever.
Exhilaration.
Because the burning sensation enhanced his body and senses.
‘I can do this.’
The things he had learned while facing the mage in the sewers were sticking to his body. The things he had trained for with his squad members, racking his brain, were now accumulating one by one through real combat. Watching from the side, Rem was reminded of the process of building a fortress wall.
He had once been mobilized for fortress construction, disguised as a laborer. The process of somehow lifting a heavy stone and stacking them one by one. A tedious and arduous process with no end in sight.
Ultimately, a process that demanded patience.
‘It’s strange, really.’
Watching Enkrid’s growth, he could only think it was strange. In fact, as the one watching from the closest proximity, it was a series of incomprehensible events. A man who couldn’t even stack one stone a day.
Suddenly starts stacking dozens of stones one day. How was something like this possible? He did not know.
Nor did he want to know. It just piqued his interest more.
‘This is fun. So fun.’
“Guek!”
A bolt lodged itself in the head of the last remaining man-faced hound. It was Torres, who had approached after cornering and killing the monster pack on one side. Torres licked his lips and said.
“A shame, you should have come over to our unit. Why are you still playing Squad Leader?”
That was something the First Company’s Platoon Leader was also curious about. With that much skill, why? Enkrid subtly used his body to shield Rem from the glares of a few soldiers who had a history with him.
Rem had beaten up his superior in the First Company. He was always on bad terms with them. Especially since Rem also had a tendency to provoke them more.
Only after preventing any trouble did Enkrid open his mouth.
“There is no one yet who can take responsibility for my squad.”
Enkrid pointed out a practical problem. If he became a Platoon Leader, who would take charge of the 444 Squad right now?
“Anyway, good work.”
The swelling sense of exhilaration now gently subsided. Enkrid had answered the question, but he hadn't listened or answered all that seriously. In Enkrid’s mind, there was only one thought.
‘I need to organize.’
He knew now from fighting. That he needed to neatly sort out what he possessed at least once. He had combined several techniques to create synergy.
He had also applied it to his swordsmanship. Until now, he had used them as the situation dictated, which was why he now felt the need to properly establish them. And since this experience was also a first for him, Enkrid felt a fresh thrill once again.
Finding what he needed for himself. That in itself was a rare thing. The path ahead had always been pitch black, and the road unseen.
But what about now? Signposts kept appearing on that once-invisible road. He was so happy he couldn't bear it.
That was why Enkrid smiled without realizing it. Even Rem couldn't guess his inner thoughts. And naturally, it was the same for Torres and the heavy infantry Platoon Leader.
The fight was over. A time to rejoice, drunk on victory? This was not that kind of fight.
It was an extermination where winning was a given, and killing was a given. But here was a soldier, covered in blood and having just run rampant, suddenly smiling as if he were having the time of his life.
The heavy infantry Platoon Leader saw it and thought it was the kind of smile one would make when sinking into a hot bath in the middle of winter.
“…Is he, uh, a little off?”
The Platoon Leader from the First Company sidled up to Torres and asked, subtly pointing to his own head with his hand. Of course, his gaze was on Enkrid.
“Well, it’s hard to say he’s normal.”
Torres trailed off. His words were based more on Enkrid’s usual life than his current smile. After all, no madman would swing a sword as madly as the troublemaker squad leader within the company.
“What are you looking at?”
“……You son of a bitch.”
While Enkrid was off his guard, a dispute broke out between Rem and the First Company. Enkrid hurriedly turned back to stop Rem, and Torres and the others also began to get the situation under control.
Two requests.
One was buried at the company commander level, so no one knew he had killed a mage. But everyone knew about the monster extermination. From him and Rem cutting down the wolf beasts.
To him facing a harpy with a sword. Few were surprised by what Rem did. Those who didn't know him might be surprised once or twice, but he was someone who was attached to the unit thanks to his outstanding skills in the first place.
“That bastard Rem? He was always a good fighter.”
“If only his personality was better, he could have been a battalion commander, don't you think?”
What surprised the groups of soldiers when the rumor spread through the unit was Enkrid. A high-rank soldier, he was indeed at the top of the soldier ranking system. But not every high-rank soldier could do such a thing.
Swinging a sword at a harpy? No, why would anyone do something so foolish? But he killed a harpy with that foolish act?
If he had barely managed to kill one, it could be called a coincidence. But it was three. The rumor spread frighteningly fast.
“No, what in the world did he do?”
“I always knew he’d do something like this one day.”
“Enkrid? That troublemaker squad leader?”
“Didn’t they say he broke a curse last time?”
“Huh, when I fought him before, I thought he was barely a high-rank.”
It was bound to cause a lot of talk. His performance in wiping out the pack of man-faced hounds was impressive, and more than a few people had seen it.
“But why is he still a Squad Leader?”
Rumors and questions spread through the unit. It was natural that they would reach the battalion commander’s ears. The battalion commander could not ignore it.
Thanks to that, the Elf Company Commander was called in and questioned.
“Is it right to keep him as a mere Squad Leader?”
“The squad is rather special.”
“Since we don't have the funds for a reward, it seems right to raise his status.”
The system of the Naurilia Kingdom was clear. If you do well, you get more. That was the core of it.
There was a reason they used policies like the soldier ranking system or the mercenary roster. The reward was either prize money or honor. The battalion commander, for his own benefit, suggested giving status instead of prize money.
The company commander knew the unique nature of the troublemaker squad well. Promoting Enkrid to Platoon Leader would make the squad uncontrollable. Then she would just have to apply a different method.
“Very well.”
The company commander saluted and turned away. She had thought of a brilliant plan that would satisfy the battalion commander and maintain the current organization. And so, Enkrid.
“I only have ten members under my command.”
“That doesn't matter. From today, you hold a rank equivalent to that of a Platoon Leader. Any complaints?”
“None, sir.”
It was an order from a superior. Enkrid had no reason to argue. What’s more, his opponent was the Elf Company Commander.
Becoming the butt of her jokes was more troublesome.
“You may go.”
And that was how he came to receive the status of a Platoon Leader.
“Do we have to call you Platoon Leader now?”
“Oh, Platoon Leader, did your salary go up?”
“Then, what about us?”
“Congratulations, brother.”
“The blade of my sword is all worn out.”
He wasn't sure if these were words of congratulations. Ragna’s last comment certainly wasn't. In reality, becoming a Platoon Leader didn't change much. Ah, there was talk of filling the empty spot in the squad that had been overlooked until now.
A squad's proper size is ten members. However, until now, there had only been six, including Enkrid. Official designation, Independent Platoon under the Fourth Company.
It wasn't the fourth squad anymore. They said he could recruit more squad members if he wanted to.
‘Why would I?’
Though it was called an independent platoon, it was unlikely they would be sent on individual missions. The only privilege granted was. Platoon Leaders did not have to stand regular guard duty.
“That’s a bit cheap, isn’t it?”
Rem expressed his dissatisfaction, but for now, he let most things slide with the news that this squad would remain as it was. This was a change that occurred after he became a Platoon Leader and the rumors spread throughout the unit. However, that didn't mean Enkrid's daily routine changed in any way.
“You’re saying you want to learn more?”
It started with Audin. Separate from organizing what he already had. He hated wasting time.
He shouldn’t stop learning and mastering when he had the time. That was the key to utilizing the repeating today, as Enkrid saw it. So he sought out Audin.
Desiring the next step for the skills that had matured and become part of his body.
“Have you ever heard of bed combat?”
He wondered what kind of nonsense this was.
“It’s a training method created by Holy Knight Balaph.”
Audin explained. Balaph-style combat.
A feast of techniques for grabbing and twisting, not hitting and beating. The addition of being pressed down and twisted on a bed to his daily routine. Of course, it wasn’t just from Audin that he was learning new things.
Before he knew it, the bitter cold, the symbol of winter, was retreating. And Enkrid remained the same. His daily life was so repetitive that if the ferryman appeared in his dreams, he would outright ask him what the hell he was doing.
And rumors began to circulate. That a full-scale war, not just local skirmishes like now, was about to break out. It was only natural.
In the previous battle, the enemy had revealed sorcery, and their side had revealed a Squire, changing the tide of the battlefield. A more intense battlefield, and spring was approaching. And before that spring arrived, Enkrid spent his days as busy as could be, organizing his own abilities.