"Who is he?"
At the lieutenant's question, Graham adjusted his posture. A sharp pain shot from his spine to the top of his head.
‘Shinar.’
He had heard that a fairy had given Enkrid some ointment for his wounds.
As a lord, shouldn't he have received something like that too, or at least some herbal roots? Why was it that no ointment, let alone any herbs, ever came his way?
Graham answered, his thoughts drifting.
"Who?"
"The Green Pearl."
One of them was clueless and stupid, while the other was above average. Even the question was different.
‘Is it relative?’
Maybe the stupid lieutenant next to him made the other one look smarter. But he couldn’t just dismiss the lieutenant.
How far can one person go for another?
That lieutenant wouldn’t risk his life, but he’d throw his arm in to save him. So, he couldn’t just get rid of him.
"Garett Gyro."
Graham said the name of the man who had once been his superior but was now his peer.
The name didn’t roll off his tongue easily.
Garett's battalion had originally been the second reserve unit of the Border Guard, but after their victory in the Green Pearl battle, they had become a new battalion, taking the Green Pearl plains as their base.
"They say he's an opportunist who would do anything for his own gain. The rumor going around is that Azpen hasn't attacked because Garett's battalion already switched sides."
It wasn’t just a rumor that reached Enkrid’s ears.
Graham suddenly felt an itch in his ear and used his pinky finger to scratch it.
"Is someone talking shit about me?"
He began to suspect the lieutenant he had just sent out.
"If Azpen pushes through, the city will be in danger, Commander."
Graham, as both lord and commander, nodded.
"Who doesn’t know that?"
What should he say about Garett Gyro?
"Did he betray us? I don’t think so. If anything, he probably didn’t do it. If you want to bet Krona on it, I’d say he didn’t."
He was a sly and clever man, but betrayal didn’t seem likely.
"Why would Marcus leave him there?"
***
The battalion commander was a handsome man with dull blonde hair.
He appeared to be in his middle years. He stepped forward with big strides.
Enkrid instinctively measured the distance.
‘Two and a half steps.’
If he wanted, he could close the gap in just a half-step's breath and be within striking distance.
"If he's identified as the enemy, you must either slash or overpower him, or grab him by the head and immediately take control of his forces."
Those had been Kraiss’s words before they left. Enkrid agreed with them.
He subtly placed his left foot forward and finished his preparation.
He could thrust quickly, or if the opponent attacked first, he could deflect it with a snake strike.
Visit freewebnoveℓ.com for the best novel reading exp𝒆rience.
His right arm had mostly recovered, so even slashing with force was possible now.
His right hand would slash, while his left hand would thrust. He was ready in every sense.
With all options open, he awaited the battalion commander.
Behind him, a few archers, infantry, and guards stood, all showing signs of tension.
Garett Gyro approached with large steps.
"Marcus, you cheating bastard!"
He shouted as he came closer.
There was a strange tone to his words.
"I’ve missed you!"
As Garett came closer, his loud voice filled the air.
He was meticulous, an opportunist, and would do anything for his own gain.
That’s how people who knew him described him.
But this... this didn’t seem like him.
"You really are more handsome than me, Nurat! How’s that?"
"You’re handsome."
One of the guards, a woman with dark skin, replied.
Garett Gyro was a man who knew how to smile. He smiled brightly and freely.
And then he said, “Now, you’re the handsomest in the Border Guard.”
"I agree."
Kraiss murmured from the ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) back. The guy who had been nervous and worried now let out a deflated comment.
Enkrid, too, felt his tension ease a bit.
If their opponent had calculated even this, they were truly a devious character, even worse than Saxon.
Of course, Saxon would never admit to it if he overheard this conversation.
"Let’s go inside."
Garett turned away. Even if he had hidden his abilities, showing his back was significant.
Garett wasn’t a betrayer. Enkrid understood that both logically and instinctively.
"Still, be cautious."
Kraiss spoke from behind.
If Garett had intended to betray them and then draw them inside for an ambush, how would they handle it?
That didn’t seem right, though.
‘He’s too careless.’
Enkrid scratched his chin as he followed Garett’s lead.
If Rem had been here, he would’ve called him a cool guy.
He had left Rem, Audin, and Teresa behind.
"We need someone to guard our back. If things go south, we need to run."
This was why Kraiss said that.
Enkrid’s reason was different.
"If you're thinking of dying in battle, sure, but otherwise, why bother?"
Everyone was injured. They needed to rest when they could.
"This could be healed with some spit, right?"
Rem muttered in defiance, but, as always, he slathered the fairy’s ointment all over himself.
He had almost gotten into a fight over Saxon’s herbal collection.
"That ointment is too much for you. Maybe try some mud or dog saliva instead."
Saxon, too, was grumbling.
He was always talking about stopping fights, and now he was already at the point of doing so even in his sleep.
After separating the two, Enkrid gave an order.
"Stay behind."
That single sentence stopped any further attempts to argue. Even the forced ‘will’ was pulled out with determination.
It showed the kind of resolve he had.
"If you die, I’ll personally wield the axe of vengeance."
Rem surrendered first, and Audin just chuckled. It didn’t seem like he was laughing from joy.
"It’s because I’m weak that all of this happens."
He tried to guilt-trip Enkrid with self-deprecating words.
"Yeah. So how about training your body more?"
Enkrid smoothly turned the joke back around. After all, his tongue was already sharp enough for a knight.
"If you think you can win with words, you’re only going to end up getting hit, you fool. I know, so don’t talk back in front of me."
Rem offered some advice from the side. Naturally, Audin didn’t listen. He simply began praying to himself.
"Did you see the arrogance of our poor little commander? Father, if I’m going to heaven, please don’t be too hard on him."
It was a prayer that hovered between a blessing and a curse.
"Thanks for the prayer."
Enkrid added a line, securing his perfect victory.
Audin shook his head with a smile.
Enkrid hesitated to push it further. Maybe it was time for a good fight, but not just yet.
If it weren’t for that, he’d still have plenty more to say.
Teresa was the only one who didn’t rebel. She was too injured to do so.
Still, she said it felt good to have killed the wolf bishop.
He didn’t know their backstory, but he could tell their relationship wasn’t particularly good.
"Well done."
He praised them both, leaving Rem and Audin with the strength to carry on.
And now, it was just him, the mage Esther, Kraiss, who was ready to bolt if necessary, the silent Ragna walking beside him, and Saxon, who had left Rem behind and was muttering something without any joy in his tone.
"You’ve got oil on your face."
Ah, and Shinar was with them too. The fairy company commander had a few scratches on his arm, but it was nothing serious.
"You look greasy."
Shinar whispered again, clearly referring to Garett. But no matter how you looked at it, Garett was not the greasy type—he was more on the handsome side.
"Is that so?"
Garett was lucky that he didn’t hear it.
Well, it seemed like it could easily be passed off, though.
He was a hard man to read.
"Right now, you’re my superior."
"That’s how I speak."
Shinar had emphasized speaking in command tones all the way here.
"Did you like being pressured by a superior like that?"
Unable to hold back, Enkrid responded.
"The pressure from your fiancée is interesting. I wonder how it feels to be on the receiving end of it."
What a crazy thing to say.
Even if it was a fairy joke, it crossed the line.
"It’s a joke."
Shinar still didn’t smile. It wasn’t just that the request to change the tone sounded strange, there was more to it. It wasn’t truly a demand.
"If there’s trouble with the command structure, it’ll be a problem."
That was the real reason.
"It doesn’t matter."
Sometimes, it seemed like Shinar didn’t realize the power her appearance gave her.
She always gave the impression that she should be respected. Her gestures, her steps, her tone—everything about her made it clear that she was a fairy.
"How old are you? If you’re younger than me, I’ll stop using formal speech."
"I don’t care about rank."
Shinar turned around with her usual expressionless face.
Enkrid entered the camp set up by Green Pearl.
"This looks like a small village."
They had cut down large trees to make palisades, and most of the people lived in tents, but there were also wooden houses scattered around.
There were signs of construction that had been halted midway.
It was probably because of the war, and because it was winter, they had stopped building.
"If we had just come by next winter, the village could’ve been properly established."
Garett spoke as they entered the largest tent in the center.
He sat at a wide table, and a few of his guards, including the black woman from earlier, stood behind him.
Though you could see some black people in the eastern part of the continent, they weren’t common in these regions.
"I don’t think you understand how much I wanted to meet you."
Garett suddenly spoke. Enkrid only tilted his head in confusion.
"Ah, I heard all about that battle. From the Green Pearl battle to the soldiers of the armistice, it was an exciting story. Tell me more about it..."
"Commander."
Garett was seated, and Nurat stood behind him, only half-bowing as she called out to him.
"Ah, I suppose now isn’t the time for stories."
"No, it isn’t."
"Azpen is right on our doorstep, Commander."
Another guard stepped in to speak, a large man with a quiet demeanor.
He gave off an air of stoicism with his square jaw and tightly shut lips.
"Yeah, who doesn’t know that."
Garett’s tone shifted suddenly.
His smile didn’t change. His expression stayed the same.
But something had changed. The aura around him felt twisted in a strange way.
It was the same way Kraiss had reacted to the news about Krona.
It was the same feeling as when Audin confronted someone who had insulted the gods.
It was the same feeling as when Ragna showed zeal for his sword.
It was the same feeling as when Rem went crazy, brainless as usual.
"I think the best option is to abandon and retreat. What do you think?"
Enkrid felt Kraiss tense at Garett's words.
He’d love this. When the word "retreat" was mentioned, the mood lightened immediately.
"Why?"
Enkrid asked in return.
"I can’t predict what the enemy will do."
"Is that the reason?"
"Yes, it is."
Kraiss interrupted, thinking this was his stage. Enkrid didn’t stop him.
Instead, he lightly nodded, encouraging him to speak more. Garett’s gaze shifted to Kraiss as well.
"There’s someone sharp here. What’s your name?"
"Kraiss."
"I’ve lived long enough to know that even with two beautiful women by my side, there are moments when the name of a refined man comes first. Alright, could you explain your reasoning?"
Garett’s tone had a rhythm to it. It wasn’t unpleasant. His voice had a melodic quality to it.
Kraiss had already said what he needed to, but he thought it was worth repeating.
"The Black Blades and the cult allies, when we fought in front of them, Azpen did nothing but watch."
"Does that explain it?"
Shinar, who had been silent, spoke up. Although Enkrid was the official commander, honestly, Shinar was practically at the same level as him.
"Your voice is like an instrument."
Garett’s words were playful, but it seemed like he had a knack for twisting words.
Shinar easily ignored it.
"Yes, it does explain. If what we see is all there is, Azpen should have attacked us first. But now it’s winter. We’ve connected our supply lines to Green Pearl, and though it’s not stable, it’s sustainable. Even without a castle, a defense is still possible. How many watchtowers do we have?"
"Eight."
"Spread out?"
"Narrow."
Following the conversation between Garett and Kraiss was difficult for Enkrid. He waited patiently. They would explain it again anyway.
"What about Azpen? Their supplies? Their march? Their camp construction?"
Kraiss asked again. It wasn’t really a question but more of an emphasis.
Supplies, advancing, and camp construction. All three were difficult tasks. The difference between those who had prepared from the start and those who hadn’t.
"The time and the situation are in our favor, but Azpen just watched."
Kraiss had been thinking this for a while. There had to be someone on the enemy side who was thinking things through.
It wouldn’t make sense otherwise.
"They’ve prepared something."
"Right, that’s it. Honestly, I thought they were just watching and retreating, but I guess not."
"Are they coming?"
"They are."
"How fast?"
"Slow."
"Not good."
"Not good."
Nurat, who had been listening from behind, spoke up, bowing slightly as she addressed her commander.
"No one understands what you're saying."
"Kraiss, use the common tongue."
Enkrid appropriately interrupted.
Garett gestured, and Kraiss explained.
Azpen hadn’t seized the high ground, nor had they rushed their movements.
They were coming in with intent.
There were two reasons.
"First, they’ve completely figured out our strength."
Kraiss spoke first.
"And second, they’re confident they can win."
Garett continued.
Kraiss and Garett exchanged a look. Then, without either of them saying who would go first, they each reached out and gave each other a light slap on the hand.
The sound of their palms meeting echoed through the tent.
"Commander."
Nurat bowed again.
"Ah, now’s not the time to get excited, right?"
"No, it isn’t."
Garett was a strange person, but he was clever. He hadn’t betrayed them.
Enkrid didn’t smack Kraiss in the back of the head either.
"So, what if we retreat? What if we pull out?"
"If we retreat, the city falls, and we’ll be labeled war criminals and tried by the kingdom. So, escaping isn’t really an option anymore."
Kraiss had asked, but Garett had answered.
When the two raised their hands again, Enkrid pressed Kraiss’s head down.
Then he said.
"Then, we need to come up with a way to win."
Thinking wasn’t his strength.
That was Kraiss’s forte.
"That’s not something you can come up with just by talking. We need to assess the surrounding terrain first..."
"Nurat."
At Garett’s command, a map appeared, a military map showing the surrounding terrain.
"Are there any issues with our supplies?"
"None at all. To affect our supply line, they’d need to breach four narrow watchtowers."
As Kraiss and Garett fell into another conversation only they understood, Enkrid stepped back.
He briefly watched, and if he understood half of what they were saying, he considered himself lucky.
Shinar had already left.
Enkrid stepped out of the tent as well. He wanted to breathe the fresh mountain air.
He had poured oil into the fire, but the air inside the tent felt stuffy.
Outside, Ragna, who had already been waiting, was staring at Enkrid.
He seemed like he had something to say.
When Enkrid approached, Ragna tilted his head and asked, while looking at the sky beyond the palisades.
"Why do you want to be a knight?"
It was an unexpected question.
And, oddly enough, a pleasant one.
It’s not really "Do you want to be a knight?" but "Why do you want to be a knight?"
The meaning behind the question was different.