The fight with the Swift Blade was a bloody battle.
Whenever Encrid tried to strike once, he had to endure being cut twice.
Even so, Encrid remained unchanged. He was the same as always. Even when his life was hanging by a thread, he was the same.
It was because his momentum and temperament didn’t change easily that he was able to be here now.
“Hey, your eyes are really annoying.”
A smile spread across the Swift Blade’s face.
Seeing that, Rem mumbled several times, even though he flinched as they fought.
Isn’t this the moment when he can’t stand it anymore?
Naturally, his mouth opened.
“Right, it’s annoying, it can be.”Why did he understand the Swift Blade’s feelings at this moment?
It was something he had experienced himself.
Sure enough, Ragna, Jaxon, and Audin were all busy nodding their heads.
No matter what, he remained the same, unchanged.
He just silently did his job. He was a man who acted before considering right and wrong.
Audin, for the first time, used the Isolation Technique on another’s body because of him, Jaxon taught him what was called the Sense of Evasion, and Rem gave him the Heart of the Beast.
Ragna also had a similar reason for passing on his skills to Encrid.
Those eyes, that stubbornness, never thinking of giving up. Watching him could drive a person crazy.
“Aren’t you scared?”
The Swift Blade asked, seemingly exhausted. As he spoke, he subtly twisted his blade. He changed into an irregular stance and moved his feet.
Encrid also changed the position of his sword, moving his body by sliding his feet along the ground without using his knees.
Sliding his feet without bending his knees made it look like his body was moving smoothly.
“Of what?”
“You almost died just now.”
“That goes for you too.”
In a recent exchange, the Swift Blade pretended to extend his left foot forward but pulled it back to deceive him.
Encrid fell for it and swung his sword forward, but the thrust came in at the perfect timing in reverse.
When he saw the tip of the sword split into four and curve towards him, anyone would feel dizzy.
Encrid felt the same.
But that didn’t mean he was about to be skewered by the blade.
How did he avoid it?
‘The Sense of Evasion.’
Jaxon’s skill saved his life. Instead, his nape was slashed. It felt like his neck was wrapped in a burning hot lump of metal. A searing pain followed.
This wasn’t the only wound.
Encrid had a hole in his stomach and his forearm tendon was nearly cut.
Just a moment ago, his neck was almost severed.
“That’s it for today! Hey, today’s not the only day.”
Receiving a signal from Krais, he shouted loudly.
The Swift Blade had no intention of stopping. He was going to continue slashing.
Of course, he couldn’t carry out his intention.
“Be careful. You, you’re annoying.”
Rem suddenly spoke. Somehow, he was at Encrid’s left rear. What would happen if he cut down Encrid here?
He hadn’t yet revealed his secret move, but even if he did.
‘I would die too.’
The Swift Blade naturally valued his own life over others.
“Got it.”
He retracted his sword and showed his palms. It was a signal to stop. Even then, there was a faint murderous intent left.
Rem sneered and looked away from him.
It didn’t matter if he looked away. At this distance, no matter what he did, he was confident his axe would reach first.
Moreover, Rem wasn’t alone.
A sneaky feral cat was on the opposite side.
How many noticed that?
At least Swift Blade didn’t.
“Come on, today’s really not the only day. Rest a bit! Get to know each other better, and if you’re bored, there are plenty of places in the alley behind the inn to entertain you. Don’t know which places are good? Ah, that’s unfortunate. But I thought that might be the case!”
Krais used the break to secure his own profit, but it didn’t feel particularly annoying.
He had a strange charm that defused the tense atmosphere.
“Now, this is what we call the Border Guard: The Good Map.”
It was a simple map that needed no lengthy explanation. It marked shops selling seasoned jerky, marmalade, well-baked bread, and other points of interest, making it easy to understand.
“Ten coins per map.”
The amount was ambiguous. Ten coins wasn’t much for some but certainly wasn’t little for those with big hands.
“Give me one. I need to eat well after losing blood.”
As the Swift Blade accepted a map with a grin, a few onlookers from the caravan also bought some.
The rapier swordsman and the Count’s party naturally each took one, and finally, a mixed-blood Giant cautiously asked.
“Isn’t this on the gentleman who shed blood today?”
Krais, who was about to hand over the map, pulled back his hand with a swift motion.
“That was until yesterday. From today, you all have to pay full price. Lady.”
The mixed-blood warrior, hearing the word ‘lady’ for the first time, nodded.
Then, she handed over exactly ten coins and received the map.
Krais clapped his hands and addressed everyone.
“It won’t be a loss. Rest well, explore the city a bit, and if you’re bored, you can spar with each other, but no accidents. Especially, please be mindful of the city folk’s safety.”
Krais bowed like an actor on stage, then lifted his head and said.
“Welcome to the Border Guard.”
Although he was bleeding profusely, it wasn’t to the point of death, so Encrid observed everything and thought.
Does that bastard think the Border Guard is some sort of tourist city?
Despite its guise as a trading city, this place was ultimately a military city.
There wasn’t really anything here for them to enjoy or see.
Not that they seemed likely to leave either.
Why wouldn’t they?
“How about next time?”
The look in the rapier swordsman’s eyes as he said that?
They sparkled. There was a glint of competitive spirit. Curiosity as well.
No matter his intentions, he wasn’t likely to leave.
The mixed-blood Giant was the same.
She seemed more than willing to stay.
Needless to say, Edin Molsen and his group too.
“Let’s go again!”
As soon as he recovered, he shouted that, but watching the bout with the Swift Blade, he kept his mouth shut.
Still, the twitching of his eyebrows showed he was clearly not pleased with the situation.
In any case, since he was staying, those who came as his escort would also stay.
‘Ah, how satisfying.’
Was this what it felt like to have your heart’s desires fulfilled?
He felt full even without eating.
“You’re planning to make a killing, huh? What about the city folks’ safety?”
Isn’t that something they should handle themselves?
Encrid, expressing his doubt to Krais who had returned, heard a whispered reply, as if to prove he hadn’t spoken thoughtlessly.
“That Swift Blade guy, I don’t have a good feeling about him. If left alone, he seems like he’ll cause trouble, so I need to report to the higher-ups to keep a closer watch. It’s one thing if he dies fighting a soldier, but if an outsider comes to the city and causes trouble like killing a commoner, it’ll be a real headache.”
Encrid thought back to the Swift Blade he fought today.
That sword, that swordsmanship, he was memorable. He didn’t have time to gauge his personality while fending off his attacks. He was too busy dealing with him. But Krais had a keen eye for people, so he was likely right.
“Jaxon, report to the higher-ups.”
“Will do.”
After sending off the sneaky alley cat, Encrid limped back to his lodging once again.
“Hey, is your body going to hold up?”
Rem, who was sticking close by, spoke.
It was nagging, but Encrid couldn’t argue back. He was right.
His body was in tatters. He had a hole in his stomach and his arm’s tendons were almost severed.
If he died, everything would be healed. Only what he had trained would remain. In a way, it could be considered a convenient and advantageous ability.
But Encrid endured.
If someone asked him why, he wouldn’t have an answer.
He just wanted to. He struggled, fought, and moved forward.
In his struggles and fights, he had removed the word ‘give up’ from his vocabulary.
Encrid didn’t know, but that was the nature of the ferryman’s curse.
It was meant to make one complacent for a day.
If the ferryman knew Encrid’s mindset, he might have thrown his lamp into the black river out of anger.
Of course, Encrid didn’t know any of this.
He just silently did what he always did.
“Well, you didn’t die.”
“You speak too easily. Let’s see. Did you really see that guy’s swordsmanship earlier?”
“I saw it.”
For a brief moment, he recalled the earlier fight.
The Swift Blade mixed Correct Sword Technique and Fluid Sword Technique. Such a blend was called a technical sword in the continent. More precisely, it was an Eastern-Style Technical Sword.
The trajectory of his sword was bizarre and its target points were peculiar.
It seemed to aim for the arm but suddenly struck the shoulder, aimed for the shoulder but suddenly hit the thigh.
Reading its trajectory was difficult.
So how did he react?
At first, he countered. He aimed to land a strike for every strike he received.
He swung his sword quickly and powerfully.
How did the opponent respond?
Swift Blade blocked his sword and countered, aiming for his wrist.
From a technical standpoint, his nickname, Swift Blade, was well-earned.
And he hadn’t even used the swordsmanship that earned him that nickname.
So he was outmatched. He lost. Defeat.
Was it regrettable? Not at all.
‘I can catch up.’
If one day of training wasn’t enough, he would take two. If two days weren’t enough, he would take a week. If a week wasn’t enough, he would take a month.
With time, he believed he could reach his goal.
He wasn’t outmatched in tactics, strength, or speed. It was purely a difference in skill proficiency.
Technical swordsmanship was inherently like that.
It was a swordsmanship that truly fit the term ‘bizarre’.
“If you saw it, it’s easy. Just see everything and counter it.”
Rem’s teachings suddenly made sense.
‘Is there a need to win purely by skill?’
Even if the destination is the same, the paths to it aren’t limited to one.
“Use your head a bit.”
Rather than running on a single path, he decided to see the wider picture.
Even if his body could keep up, he decided not to settle.
“That’s the spirit.”
Rem smiled. His smile was pleasant to see.
Come to think of it, Swift Blade’s smile had been rather displeasing.
Maybe Krais had judged him correctly.
Returning, bleeding profusely, Esther saw him and coughed, almost like a sarcastic laugh.
It was a look of disbelief.
You went out fine this morning, and now you’re back like this?
‘Hmm, how is it that her nagging feels worse than Rem’s?’
It was a curious thing. Seeing this, Rem chuckled and said.
“Hey, panther wizard, this guy will probably keep doing this.”
The black panther didn’t respond to Rem’s words. Ragna silently asked if today had been fun.
Encrid nodded.
This wound wouldn’t heal in just a day.
But to Dunbachel watching nearby, this was still surprising.
“In three days?”
“I’m fine now.”
Did this beastwoman plan to be surprised every time he got up?
Encrid thought this as he started walking.
He had heard they were still staying at the market inn.
Who should he face next?
His heart pounded, pushing him forward.
His arm wasn’t fully healed yet, but he had his other hand and the ointment Jaxon had given him was effective.
Audin had secretly sprinkled some divine power on him.
Though it didn’t manifest as a visible light of divine power, it had boosted his healing, allowing him to get back on his feet quickly.
Without that, even with his regenerative abilities, Encrid would have been bedridden for over a week.
The Swift Blade felt a murderous urge.
Should he leave the inn at night and slit a few throats?
The wounds he received from fighting Encrid, had scabbed over after two days.
Seeing his own wounds stoked his desire.
Unable to contain himself, he started to leave.
“Stop it, small human.”
A mixed-blood Giant blocked his path.
“Huh?”
“I said stop.”
“What?”
Feigning ignorance with a smiling face.
A man sitting at a table in the pub on the first floor, raising his glass, also glanced over.
It was the rapier swordsman.
“Swift Blade, from the Black Blade Bandits, right? You guys stick together well. Stop it, for the sake of everyone staying in the city.”
“What are you talking about?”
The Swift Blade laughed and tried to deny it, but the two men said nothing. It wasn’t as if he could ignore them and leave.
“I just wanted to take a night stroll.”
Muttering, he climbed back up the creaking wooden stairs.
After the Swift Blade went up, the rapier swordsman sipped his drink and the mixed-blood Giant stood there, deep in thought.
It was impossible to know what was going through each of their minds.
“Why didn’t you fight that giant?”
The rapier swordsman suddenly asked.
“Neither the target nor the purpose.”
He was curious about the skill of a friend named Audin.
The rapier swordsman nodded.
Soon, one of Edin Molsen’s guards descended the stairs.
Hearing the creaking sound of the stairs, both naturally looked up.
Without a word, the guard walked outside the inn.
But it seemed the Swift Blade, who was still watching, followed and asked.
“Why did you let that guy leave?”
“He’s not going to cause any trouble.”
“What about me?”
“You will cause trouble.”
The Swift Blade pondered the rapier swordsman’s instant reply.
Should I cut him?
Then he quickly backed down.
Though not seriously injured, he was still wounded.
Moreover, those two had already seen his swordsmanship.
It was only fair that he also saw theirs.
So next time, he would pit Encrid against one of those two.
It turned out just as he hoped.
When Encrid returned, the rapier swordsman stepped forward.
“It’s my turn this time.”
“Let’s do it.”
Encrid was indifferent as it didn’t matter to him who stepped forward.
Seeing this, the Swift Blade felt a twinge of annoyance.
‘Those damn eyes.’
Why were they so unwavering?
Anyway, Encrid faced the rapier swordsman.
This time, there was no severe injury.
It was a clean match, fairly balanced.
Honestly, to put it bluntly.
‘Why did that guy come here?’
The Swift Blade roughly understood the purpose of the others who came with him. He even knew the true identity of the large female warrior.
He just pretended not to know.
But the rapier swordsman was different.
Through the match, he was teaching Encrid.
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