The moment one let their guard down, Torres would brilliantly exploit their weakness. He could read his opponent's breathing and condition as naturally as he breathed himself. When asked how he could do that, he replied.
“You just have to fight as many different kinds of people as you can. That's the fastest way to become a special-grade soldier in a short time, and it's the philosophy of the frontier garrison.”
It wasn't much of a philosophy, so his last remark was probably half a joke. Torres, who had said it, grinned. The water rippled.
Enkrid watched the river and thought.
‘Different.’
Just as Rem and Ragna’s teachings were different. His sparring sessions and conversations with Torres were different too. The Elf Company Commander was also different.
‘Diverse.’
There was something to learn from all of them. Nothing could be missed. He learned that Torres's Hide Knife, which at first glance seemed like a simple sleight of hand, could become a fatal move depending on how it was used.
And to that end, he had even learned a part of how to deceive an opponent's perception. It was Torres's practical combat method.
“It's all thanks to my father being a gambler and wanting to make me a second-generation one.”
It was, in a way, the origin of his Hide Knife technique. To Enkrid, it sounded like the result of outstanding talent and relentless effort.
“Want me to teach you?”
The ferryman was about to arrive.
“Isn't it your secret technique?”
“I’ll teach you if you want.”
Why was he acting like this? He didn't know. However, Enkrid was more accustomed to seizing a given opportunity than finding reasons for another's change of heart.
He nodded.
“Good. Watch closely. You hide it in your sleeve like this.”
An explanation followed on how to hide the knife and how to draw it just by flipping his palm.
“You're really clumsy.”
Enkrid’s fingertips were so inept that Torres complained. But since he now knew how to use Single Point Focus when learning something, he was better than before. Certainly, he was several times better than before.
If it had been the old Enkrid, before he learned Single Point Focus.
‘Would I have given up already?’
Wouldn't he have seen Torres shaking his head long ago? Investing time in something that showed no potential would be a foolish thing to do.
“You can have a custom knife made at the blacksmith's later. Until then, it'd be good to practice with something like a flat stone.”
Torres said as he personally picked up a flat stone for him.
“You really are slow.”
He chided him again. Enkrid paid it no mind since he already knew. In the first place, he didn't have the luxury of caring about such words.
“Still, you're persistent.”
Ignoring Torres’s words, he tried a few more times, but of course, it wasn't easy. It was the process of using concentration to hide the flat stone. He let his sleeve hang loose and slipped the stone inside.
The key was to turn his hand from palm-up to palm-down, flicking it out. Naturally, it was not easy.
“It’d be nice if you had a practice sheath.”
Torres muttered.
Apparently, there was a special sheath for practice that secured a dagger inside the sleeve. He said it was good to use before one got used to it.
“It's an application of a technique gamblers call Palming.”
Torres said as he watched Enkrid practice the technique.
“Palming.”
It was a technique that could only be used under a few conditions. The blade had to be shorter than his outstretched palm, and the hiding had to be done with precise timing, so he needed time to practice just holding it.
‘This is difficult.’
It was several times more difficult than swinging a sword. Still, it was better than getting used to a shield. As they spent their time like that, resting after another sparring session had left them drenched in sweat, the ferryman arrived.
The ferryman had come along the main road, an area patrolled regularly by guards who cleared out monsters. Thanks to that, the ferryman was able to come alone.
“They say they’re building a cabin here after this year. Then a ferryman or a fisherman will settle here. It would be nice if a small fishing village could be formed, if possible.”
The ferryman was talkative. Enkrid, who had been responding moderately, watched the river while listening to the creaking of the oar.
Pen-Hanil River.
It was the lifeblood of the nearby villages, and on a larger scale, of the neighboring countries including Naurilia.
In the distance, he could see low-growing grass and a few trees on the riverbank, and if he looked to one side, he could see a rock cliff, a waterfall cascading between the cliffs, and a few cabins built along the riverbank.
This side was a gravel path, but looking beyond, he could see a meadow that would turn green in the spring.
“Whoops, the current is slow and the depth is shallow here, but that thing is dangerous.”
The ferryman said, as if to himself, and changed the direction of the boat. A grayish rock protruded in the middle of the river. If a boat like this got caught on it, it would surely be smashed to pieces.
The boat floated leisurely down the river and soon reached the other side.
“I’ll be on my way now.”
The ferryman left.
“Should we wash up before we go? We have some time before we meet them.”
Torres suggested, looking at the sun high in the sky.
“That sounds good.”
Having been drenched in sweat, an unpleasant smell was rising as it dried. He didn't know how many days the operation would last, but there was no need to be uncomfortable from the start. Eating, sleeping, and washing when there was time was a soldier's basic duty.
“Alright then.”
Torres was the first to strip off his clothes and immerse himself in the river. The rippling water was a mix of blue and green, and it looked very clear and clean. Soon, Enkrid also removed his gear piece by piece and entered the river naked.
As he dipped his feet in, a cold sensation sent shivers down his spine. Torres, seeing Enkrid, widened his eyes.
“That… what the hell are you.”
Was there anything to be surprised about here? Torres opened his mouth, then lowered his gaze to between Enkrid's legs, and promptly shut his mouth tight. Enkrid, too, looked down between his own legs.
There was, in fact, one thing to be surprised about.
“You bastard, you have everything.”
Torres’s tone sounded like he was on the verge of tears.
“You should have just had the face.”
“You keep saying that, and you're going to make me want to thank the parents I don't even know.”
“You’re an orphan?”
“Yes.”
This was not a place where not knowing one's parents was special. The majority of those who served in the army were probably like that.
“It might be better to have no parents than to have ones who teach you with a slap on the palm.”
“Perhaps.”
Enkrid had never craved parental affection in the first place. He would rather swing a sword in that time. In the days when he had nothing, absolutely nothing.
The only things that helped him endure those times were the dream of being a knight and the object called a sword. Is the world kind to a little boy who grew up as an orphan?
No way.
This was not that kind of world. It was a wonder he hadn't died. He was alive only because the people in the village where he stayed were simple and good.
‘A knight.’
He had lived his life looking only at that. In the time he could have craved affection, he dreamed of being a knight. He dreamed to forget his hunger.
He swung a club as a sword to forget his pain. That was why Enkrid did not crave affection. Instead, he craved the sword.
That was the dream born from it. The Knight of the End of the War, the beginning of Enkrid's dream. The faces of a few villagers from what he might call his hometown flashed through his mind.
They weren't people who had cherished him like parents. But at least they weren't people who would let him die. The world was a place where even such people were swept up in war.
‘War devours everything.’
So it would be good if he could end that war. What must he do to contribute to that?
‘The sword.’
Swing it, and swing it again, that was all. That was the only way Enkrid knew. That was his parent, his brother, his sister.
His dream, his goal, his everything.
Brrr.
Bubbles rose to the surface of the water. As Enkrid was submerged in thought, Torres tapped him on the shoulder from underwater.
“Puah.”
As he came up, exhaling.
“They're here.”
Torres said, glancing to one side. Following his gaze, Enkrid turned his head back to see a soldier standing with one leg cocked, and behind him, two soldiers holding clubs shorter than shortswords. At a glance, their gear made them look like bandits or mountain thieves.
The blunt weapon called a club and worn leather armor. Their equipment was light. Forgoing padded armor, which was thick cloth armor, meant they placed more weight on mobility.
Naturally, Enkrid tried to gauge their level of strength. It was something he had learned from Audin through the Technique of Isolation.
‘His arms are well-balanced.’
Despite standing with one leg cocked, his hands hung loosely at his sides. When does one take such a posture?
‘He could throw something if things go south.’
It seemed he was quite skilled at handling throwing weapons. As if to prove it, a throwing axe dangled from his waist. Judging by his level of training, he likely had other skills as well.
The two soldiers behind him had daggers at their waists instead of axes, and aside from the clubs in their hands, they weren't very noticeable.
‘Orange hair.’
Enkrid's gaze finally rested on the face of the soldier in the lead. Freckles and orange hair, with a small frame. It was a female soldier.
“Aren’t you relaxed? Enjoying a bath. Is it refreshing?”
The orange-haired woman greeted them with a cocky tone. Seeing this, Enkrid realized anew that his sixth sense still had room for improvement.
‘I didn't feel them approaching.’
It might have been natural. He hadn't expected anyone to come this far. It was because he had been submerged in thought in the water.
Did he let his guard down too much? No. He had taken at least minimal precautions. They were right on the riverbank, and his gear was there.
It was also possible that those who had approached this far were skilled at hiding their presence. The orange-haired woman, standing on relatively higher ground, spoke.
“You're not coming out?”
Torres went first.
“You gonna keep watching?”
As he spoke.
“There's gotta be something to watch.”
Harsh.
Enkrid thought as he got out. Water streamed down his body with a splash. Was Torres truly only surprised by the symbol of manhood?
No. The Technique of Isolation had completely transformed Enkrid’s body. The results of the repeated teachings of Audin, engraved through countless todays, were clearly visible on his body. His defined shoulder muscles led down to rippling, powerful arm muscles.
Below his firm chest, chiseled abdominal muscles twitched, and the defined muscles of his quadriceps greeted the soldier's eyes. Finally, the thing dangling in the middle filled the soldier's sight.
“…Looks like your side has something worth seeing.”
This prompted Torres, who had been staring at the situation from the side, to grumble in complaint.
“Ahem, get dressed.”
The orange-haired soldier said with a cough. Torres and Enkrid left their sweat-soaked clothes and took out new ones from their backpacks. Their previous clothes were showing salt stains as they dried.
It would be good to wash them when they had time. With that thought, Enkrid stood up, fully armed once more.
“Finn, Recon Platoon Leader.”
The orange-haired woman said, holding out her fist. Torres went first.
“Torres, Platoon Leader of the Frontier Guard.”
Thump, their fists met, and then the fist came towards Enkrid.
“Independent Platoon, Platoon Leader Enkrid.”
The Elf Company Commander had strangely changed Enkrid's affiliation. Since she couldn't entrust a real platoon to him, she had taken him out completely and organized him into an Independent Platoon under the company.
“Independent Platoon? What’s that? Anyway, nice to meet you.”
Finn went past Enkrid’s fist and poked him in the stomach.
“Nice abs.”
“My abs would have been nice too.”
Torres muttered from the side. Since it was loud enough for everyone to hear, it didn't seem like he was talking to himself.
“Should we talk as we go? If we leave now, we can reach the campsite before sunset.”
The two soldiers in the back seemed to be Finn's subordinates. They all exchanged military salutes. Soon, the group of five began to move.
On the way, Finn finally revealed the detailed mission objective.
“You didn’t come here without knowing where this is, right?”
“I heard it was a land of monsters and beasts.”
Enkrid answered.
With his excellent memory, he was recalling and reciting Enri's words one by one. He had said that the area north of the Pen-Hanil River was home to many monsters and beasts. A land that most would avoid unless they were an exceptionally skilled pathfinder or hunter.
“And it’s right in front of Cross Guard.”
Finn’s stiff tone continued.
“The original mission objective was to receive information through the cat. Well, that was all there was to it until now.”
Cat was a code word for a spy. It was a common term used on this continent. Both nations had planted spies in each other's cities.
That was true for Azpen as well as Naurilia. Since Enkrid had actually fought and killed some of those spies, their existence was nothing special.
“And the cat hasn’t made contact for four days past the scheduled date.”
Finn said as she walked. So what would happen? As Torres and Enkrid listened intently, Finn continued.
“We received new orders. We're to go in and rescue him ourselves. Our cat's last message said he had obtained important information.”
A thrilling sensation shot through Enkrid's body. Goosebumps rose as a warning coursed through him.
This was.
‘Dangerous.’
It wasn't just dangerous. He would die. He would surely die several times.
His instincts, honed by experiencing countless todays, told him so. Following this woman named Finn's words now meant they had to infiltrate Cross Guard.
“Hoo, it's a dog of a mission, isn't it? Fuck, I know. But there's a way. There is one.”
Finn finally said with a smirk. It was a self-deprecating laugh. Enkrid had already realized it during the previous incident with the mage's trap.
Could he get through today by running away? The answer was ‘no.’ Whether he tried to stay up all night, simply fell asleep, or ran away to another place all night. The result was the same.
It would only add to his body's fatigue. He realized it was unavoidable. And if you can't avoid it, you might as well enjoy it.
Enkrid laughed too. It was a different kind of laugh from Finn's. It was a laugh of joy and a smile of ecstasy, revealing his anticipation. Seeing this, Finn’s eyebrows twitched as she spoke.
“The main unit sent a crazy bastard, huh?”
Torres nodded, half in earnest. From his perspective, Enkrid wasn't normal either. Even he was nervous, but this guy...
Of course, Enkrid was nervous too. But his mindset for facing a new tomorrow was just different.
‘I will overcome it.’
Overcoming a wall meant growth, so he smiled with joy at that. Of course, he would struggle. He would do his best to thrash about so as not to be trapped in today.
That wasn't to say it wasn't terrifying. It was just that he was looking further ahead. As Enkrid walked, his shoulders were tense.
It was due to a mix of nervousness and anticipation.