"It's bad."
That was the answer he gave when asked if he was alright.
Graham, lying in bed, barely lifted his head to look at Enkrid.
He had been stabbed deep in the back and could hardly move.
In other words, the Border Guard's standing army had lost its commander.
They now had to fight without a lord, a battalion commander, or a supreme commander...
"You’ll manage without me, won’t you?"
Graham muttered.
One of his two lieutenants nearly nodded in agreement. No—one of them did nod.
"That bastard is nodding."
"A-ah, no, sir!"
At Graham’s words, the lieutenant who had been nodding quickly changed it into a frantic shake of his head.
Watching the ridiculous exchange, Enkrid asked, "So, am I doing it?"
"Who else would?"
Graham had come to a realization.
‘I'm just a lord in name.’
Wasn’t the real hero of the city someone else entirely?
Sure, he himself had cut down the enemy commander in this battle and led the madmen under his command, making him no less insane than them. But the man standing before him was the kind of person who would throw himself into danger to save a child.
‘A useless act.’
And yet, it was that kind of person people could trust.
And it was that kind of person he had no complaints about.
If, right now, Enkrid were to say—
"Hand over the lordship."
Graham would do it without hesitation.
Of course, that wasn’t what the man before him was saying. Just a hallucination of his own mind.
Even if he was only a lord in name, it wasn’t something he resented. It was a strange thing.
Looking at this man, he felt no jealousy.
Maybe it was because he had seen him rise from the very bottom.
Or maybe it was because he knew how hard Enkrid swung his sword, to the point his palms split open.
Even now, despite being vastly stronger than before, the man still wore out his hands the same way.
To be jealous of someone like that would be to admit he was trash—a failure.
Maybe that was it.
‘I don’t want to be trash.’
That was the conclusion Graham arrived at. But there was still something he wanted to ask.
"Why did you save that child?"
It had been dangerous. Pointless.
A moment of carelessness amid the flashes and explosions could have meant death.
And yet, the man before him had shielded the child with his body, rolling through the chaos, getting burns on his back and shoulders.
Why? It was just a kid.
A single arrow, or simply doing nothing, would have let nature take its course.
And yet, he had acted.
Even if Graham couldn’t fully understand what had driven him in that moment, the result remained the same—the child was alive.
He had drawn his sword for someone who had nothing to do with him.
Like some character from a story.
Enkrid answered without a moment’s hesitation.
"Because I wanted to."
It wasn’t even said with any sense of self-importance. The casual way he treated it made it even more striking.
This bastard really was a complete lunatic.
Graham, feeling a strange urge to provoke him, said, "Show some respect to your battalion commander, Captain. Has Rem rubbed off on you?"
"That’s an insult. Are you asking for a duel?"
"Rem was a mistake."
"Yes."
"Win and come back. If you do, I’ll personally take the lead in celebrating your return."
"Am I supposed to be happy about an old man welcoming me back instead of a beautiful woman?"
Enkrid sounded genuinely curious, and once again, that idiot lieutenant started nodding.
Why the hell was he agreeing now?
"Get out."
Graham dismissed both Enkrid and his lieutenant.
As the lord of the city, he had a duty to worry about it.
Enkrid, watching Graham’s sense of responsibility, found himself satisfied.
And so—
"I’ll win and come back."
He said this as he stepped out.
Graham said nothing in response. But his eyes held no doubt.
Outside, the snowfall was letting up. It wouldn’t be long before Azpen stopped watching and finally made his move.
The Green Pearl Battalion would be reinforcing them.
"I wish this damn snowstorm would take a hint and stop already."
His idiot lieutenant remained oblivious. He didn’t realize that the snowfall had actually bought them some time to rest.
How had this guy even become a lieutenant?
"You need to develop some awareness."
Enkrid offered a pointed remark before turning away.
He saw the child’s mother and, in the city, a group of injured mercenaries.
The mercenaries had taken shelter in the city’s inns.
Some had agreed to join the fight as auxiliary forces. Others chose to remain mercenaries.
Among them were some interesting individuals.
One of them was Edin Molsen.
"Be careful of your father."
That was the first thing he said upon approaching.
"You realize that sounds exactly like you’re telling me to be careful of you, right?"
"It’s advice, not a warning."
"Got it."
Enkrid took it lightly and brushed it off. Count Molsen wasn’t the most pressing concern right now.
No.
There was a clear order of priorities.
Right now, the enemy was Azpen. Azpen, who had finally decided to go all in.
"Don’t forget my words."
Edin Molsen repeated himself, but Enkrid just grinned.
"By the way, your name is...?"
"...Did you forget again?"
Before Edin could explode in frustration, Enkrid picked up his pace and slipped away, making his way back to the barracks.
"Anything to eat? Food? You know injured people need to eat well, right?"
The moment he stepped into the barracks, Rem greeted him, looking as eager as a baby bird waiting for its mother.
That gluttonous bastard.
It just so happened that he had taken a lap around the city.
Partly for his own recovery, partly to check on the mercenaries who had stayed to fight because of him.
So he had brought back some bread, marmalade, and spiced jerky.
"They say if you’re going to die, at least make sure you look good doing it."
"That’s a Western joke. How do you even know that?"
Rem smirked and stuffed bread into his mouth.
Watching him, Enkrid was reminded of his earlier encounter with Gilpin.
That guy had seemed... off.
"There were several spies among us. We caught some, but a few slipped through."
That had been the first thing Gilpin said when he approached.
"We’ll tighten surveillance."
The way his jaw clenched showed his determination.
Enkrid didn’t bother replying. What he did wonder, though, was why these guys were the ones handling counterintelligence.
Wasn’t that the city watch’s job?
Or was it? No, it was.
Either way, Gilpin was completely focused on it. His eyes burned with fervor, as if he had received some divine calling.
But it wasn’t divine intervention that had started this. It had been Kraiss’s orders, nothing more.
"Right. Sure."
"Meelun’s been taking out any decent fighters he finds. We’re expanding the guild and locking down the city’s nights."
Enkrid hadn’t realized it, but Gilpin had been watching the battle.
He had seen the whole thing unfold.
Of course, he already knew Enkrid was impressive, but there had been something different this time.
He had stood at the front, facing the storm of blades.
He had gone head-to-head with the enemy commander.
That alone was astounding.
But what had really left an imprint on Gilpin’s mind was when Enkrid had rolled across the battlefield, shielding that child.
That scene had replayed in his head for days.
‘Was there a reason to save that kid?’
No.
And yet, he had done it.
That child had been kidnapped because of his own failure. He had been the one responsible for spotting spies, for protecting the city's nights.
Even with Meelun and Frokk helping, he had failed.
And that was something he could never let happen again.
“I missed.”
That day, Gilpin clenched his teeth so hard that blood started to flow from his gums.
Over a hundred years ago, there was a man who unified a thieves’ guild on his own.
He was no common thief, but a noble bandit.
He made it his life's mission to help the poor and the struggling.
Having grown up surrounded by nothing but thievery, he reached the top of that world.
The continent's only Log Master.
A minstrel who sang of the romance of the night.
The Emperor of the alleyways, Kiuwzellas.
As a child, Gilpin had dreamed of being the protector of the night.
The protector of the night was a concept created by Kiuwzellas.
To guard the night, singing songs of peace for the people.
Gilpin thought, seeing the smiles of those around him, that he was becoming someone different from a mere thief.
He believed, from his childhood, that protecting the city he had grown up in was his duty.
‘This is the city where I was born and raised.’
He would protect it. If not him, then who?
He had missed the child. He had missed a few spies.
No one blamed Gilpin.
Not even the child's mother would blame him, but Gilpin blamed himself.
‘It’s my fault.’
He could be criticized for being a pathetic thief, talking about duty and responsibility.
‘But if it’s just a dream...’
Gilpin wanted to embrace the dream of his childhood again.
And that dream nearly shattered when Enkrid saved the child.
He saw the mother’s gratitude.
And it was then that Gilpin glimpsed something extraordinary in the man before him.
It wasn’t just about his swordsmanship.
Had Kiuwzellas been like this?
Enkrid was a different person, with a different heart and will. Gilpin recognized that.
"Why did he do it?" Gilpin asked when Kraiss returned, and his response was a masterpiece in itself.
"He probably did it because it was annoying. What kind of fool would act like the enemy commander? If he saves someone, how pissed would they be?"
Was that the real reason?
No. He had saved a person. He had saved the city by saving that child.
Enkrid’s actions weren’t intentional, but they completely captivated the heart of the old thief.
Gilpin reaffirmed his resolve.
‘Even if it costs me my life.’
He would protect the city’s night, and even if it meant clearing small obstacles from the path Enkrid walked, he would do so.
Though his loyalty might seem misplaced, considering Kraiss had already handled the situation, it wouldn’t change once Kraiss learned of Gilpin’s true thoughts.
"Let it be," was his attitude. Calm.
As long as the job gets done, that’s all that mattered. In fact, he was thankful for the early warning.
It meant he wouldn’t be stabbed in the back when things go wrong.
Enkrid, of course, had no idea about any of this.
He simply enjoyed watching people who were passionate about something.
"Good luck."
"I’ll clear the stones from the road."
Gilpin’s words were a bit difficult to understand, but Enkrid took it to mean that he would help tidy up the alleys of the city.
For a short stop in the city, it had been a busy time, meeting plenty of people.
On his way, he had even seen Graham.
After a moment of thought, Enkrid turned his attention to the swollen cheek of Dunbakel, who was clearly battered.
"Once the snow stops, we’re heading out. How can you turn a kid into an idiot like this?"
Enkrid scolded. This man could still be a force in battle.
"It’ll heal in half a day. What? Do I look like someone who just beats up kids?"
Enkrid nearly nodded but managed to stop himself. He couldn't act like the oblivious lieutenant from earlier.
"You seem to have dislocated your jaw."
"Guess I hurt my eye too."
Enkrid ignored it and moved on, seeing Kraiss sitting in front of ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) the hearth with a foolish expression on his face after a long rest.
He looked like he was enjoying some idle time, but in reality, his mind was turning over thoughts like crazy.
Just as Enkrid watched with this belief, Kraiss suddenly drooled, then quickly swallowed it back.
"Oh, I was dozing off."
Kraiss was definitely lounging around.
Enkrid considered giving him a light smack on the back of his head.
Just as he was about to do that, Kraiss stretched and got up.
"Did you come back?"
"Yeah."
"I’ve been thinking."
"Thinking?"
Enkrid briefly wondered if it might be best to just slap Kraiss before he spoke any nonsense.
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But Kraiss, unaware of Enkrid’s thoughts, continued as usual.
"I think Azpen’s men must’ve set a trap."
The snow, which had been pouring down, gradually slowed, and during that time, Kraiss had been strategizing.
‘If they attacked from behind.’
It would have been a tough battle, but one they had expected. Azpen had to use their advantage to launch an offensive.
But they didn’t.
Winter battles were already hard enough, and stalling made no sense.
Azpen had waited.
Even with the snow stopping, no ambush had come. Now, it seemed like they were preparing to move their forces.
It felt like they had just been waiting for their battle to end.
And that uneasy feeling gnawed at him. It didn’t sit right. Something was very, very wrong. The anxiety rose again.
‘I would’ve attacked.’
What battle is easier than one where you strike your enemy’s back? Yet, Azpen hadn’t done that.
There was something else going on. Something unpredictable. The worst situation was coming.
After further thought, Kraiss reached a conclusion.
"The Black Blades and the cult allies will be tougher than we thought. They might even be hiding knights. Even if the knights appear, we’re unsure if our own forces can send any knight-level soldiers. They might even divert some of their forces to directly attack the city."
"So what do you mean?"
"They can do anything," Kraiss replied calmly, sitting by the hearth.
Enkrid understood. It was just like talking with a commander and his soldiers.
Why wouldn’t it be?
Graham had been taken out by an assassin, leaving Enkrid with full command.
The hearth’s fire cast a reddish glow on Kraiss’s face.
"Do you know the battalion commander from Green Pearl?"
Enkrid shook his head. He had never met the man. But he had heard that he was an opportunist, willing to do anything for gain.
He was exceptional in supply and fortification, but not in combat.
This wasn’t good news.
"In the worst-case scenario, we’ll face a situation where the enemy doubles in strength," Kraiss continued.
At the mention of magic, Esther scoffed from the side.
"Hmph."
Today, she was in her human form.
As they spoke, the snow finally stopped.
With the snow gone, it was time to regroup and prepare for battle.
The injuries were half-healed.
Without Graham, Enkrid himself would have to take command of the entire operation.
"That’s something we need to check."
So, whose side was the Green Pearl Battalion really on?
Was it possible that Azpen had been waiting because they already saw them as allies?
It was a valid suspicion. No, it was something they had to suspect.
"Let’s go to battle."
After a few days of rest, it was time to face a new challenge.
They had slain a few wolves. Now, they would face the tigers waiting behind them.
Battle preparations, followed by the advance.
Enkrid couldn’t relax until he had inspected the wooden palisades and watchtowers of Green Pearl. Only then could he breathe easy.
And then, as he entered, the Green Pearl battalion commander, fully armed, stood ready to greet him.
The moment Enkrid saw his twisted expression, Kraiss’s bad premonition turned into a reality.