Chapter 139: The Eighth Morning
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 139: The Eighth Morning
Valaf-style Acupressure.
That was the original name of Blood, Sweat, and Tears.
"May I ask what else this Valaf person created, besides martial arts and acupressure?"
"He also developed blunt weapon techniques, but they were so terrible that they've long since died out. Other than that, he compiled many documents, including a deciphering of the Holy Scripture."
Valaf was a fairly famous figure in the temple Audin belonged to. He existed in the realm of legend—a name most people wouldn't know unless they specifically studied the archives.
But to those connected to the god he served, it was a very familiar name.
Of course, it was a familiar name to Encrid now, too.
Audin's hands pressed down firmly. At first, Encrid felt as if he were about to board a boat with the Ferryman of the Black River. But after taking a deep breath and holding it, the pain became bearable.
"Initially, you press the area of greatest pain," Audin said, offering another gentle smile. "Then, you gradually move to areas of lesser pain. If you do that..."
"Mmh."
"...the knotted muscles will loosen."
His body grew languid. Every time those thick, bear-like hands touched him, his muscles unraveled strand by strand.
Would this be useful to learn properly?
His muscles, which had been cramping and trembling under the strain of the Heart of Monstrous Strength, began to ease. At the same time, the pain subsided.
"You must get plenty of rest for the remainder of the day."
It seemed he really had to. He had mastered the Heart of Monstrous Strength properly, but using it recklessly placed too much strain on his body.
Once again, Encrid caught a glimpse of just how incredible knights truly were. They were beings who transcended human limits even without such techniques. Though human on the outside, they wielded the strength of giants, displayed the athletic prowess of Frok, and possessed the keen sensitivity of elves.
Such were knights. And upon Encrid's faded dream, a faint ray of dawn was finally beginning to break.
"Why is no one stopping me from using two swords?"
The question slipped out suddenly as he grew drowsy. Whether this was the right path or the wrong one, someone ought to have said something, yet everyone remained silent. Even Ragna had gone so far as to recommend he use a sword and shield.
"Why do you think that is, brother?"
Perhaps out of habit from his days as a priest, Audin frequently answered a question with another question.
"I'm asking because I don't know."
Lying face down, Encrid's voice sounded muffled.
Audin chuckled from above him and replied, "From what I've observed, it is because you, our squad leader, are incredibly stubborn. Now, please go to sleep."
Stubborn? Me?
Encrid found that utterly impossible to accept. Where else could one find someone as flexible and gentle as him? Wasn't it obvious just from how he managed—or rather, kept a loose rein on—the members of the Mad Independent Platoon? If he had been crazy too, what would have become of this unit?
But as Audin's hand pressed near his neck, Encrid felt his consciousness drift. It wasn't the sensation of fainting or dying, but rather a gentle slide into sleep, led by a deep, heavy fatigue.
There was no need to resist. He also figured that resting was far more important than opening his mouth to chatter.
And so, Encrid fell asleep.
Audin stood up upon seeing that his squad leader had drifted off. They say truly stubborn people never realize their own stubbornness. He certainly didn't seem to admit it at all.
"You are an interesting man, brother," Audin murmured, then spoke toward the outside of the tent. "How long do you plan on watching?"
Right outside the tent, Sachsen's voice answered him.
"I was looking at the squad leader. Not you."
Audin nodded indifferently and walked out. Left behind, Sachsen stared intently at Encrid.
He really was a strange man. He naturally made others ponder what he needed. He made them want to help. He made them want to teach him—even if it meant sharing one's own secret techniques.
"He won't need mine," Sachsen muttered, then walked away.
Meow.
A small black panther slipped into the arms of Encrid, who was left alone. Cradling Esther in his sleep, Encrid fell into a deep slumber.
And then, he dreamed.
Faceless figures appeared and questioned him repeatedly.
"Is that right?"
"You really think the path you're walking is the right one?"
"You're crazy, aren't you?"
"Stubborn fool. You know it won't work, so what are you doing?"
It was a nonsense dream. Encrid dismissed all their questions with a single reply.
"If I want to do it, I do it. What business is it of yours?"
Instead of questioning, he would devise a way. And at the end of his planning, he would take what he desired. That was the path he walked. Especially now, when a signpost had finally appeared on his road.
Thus, it was time to hold onto conviction more than ever before.
Waking from his sleep, Encrid muttered with his eyes open, "I should at least tell them why I'm using two."
He was not stubborn. Therefore, he would provide a valid reason.
He got up and tested his body. Having slept soundly for a full day, he could push himself again. He went outside and began to warm up.
Isolation Technique, Swordsmanship Training, Beast's Heart, Blade's Sense, Single-Point Focus. To these, he added the recently learned Heart of Monstrous Strength. Keeping it active continuously would ruin his body, so he used only a moderate amount.
As he resumed his training, Audin emerged.
"Good morning, brother."
It was the moment when the sun was gently rising, shifting the surrounding colors from blue to yellow. The cold air of dawn was slowly turning warm. But even before the temperature could shift, Encrid stood alone on the gravel field in front of the barracks, steam already billowing from his entire body.
A few night watchmen passed by, but none of them spoke to him. Though they treated him as a war hero, no one would receive a warm response if they interrupted him mid-training. Of course, that was true even under normal circumstances.
They weren't called the Mad Independent Platoon for nothing. The surrounding soldiers simply watched. They respected them, as they were worthy of respect.
"Yeah."
Of course, instead of caring about such things, Encrid focused on his own work. After Audin, Rem came out.
"Squad leader, squad leader. I'm out."
"Is that so?"
He was training right in front of the barracks, so announcing his arrival made little sense. Regardless, Rem squatted nearby and watched. Sachsen had started moving, though no one knew when he had woken up.
Next was Krais.
"Yawn... Still no word on us heading back today, it seems. This isn't good."
Big-Eyes muttered to himself, stretching and yawning. The next squad member to emerge was Ragna.
"Squad leader."
He approached. Now that everyone had gathered, Encrid stopped his movements. He had to say what needed to be said. Because he was not stubborn.
"Do you absolutely have to use two swords?" Ragna asked, having just walked up.
Encrid nodded and spoke. "That is my intention."
Now, if he asked why, Encrid would answer. He was fully prepared. Encrid stared intently at Ragna.
Go on, ask.
Ragna did not ask. Silence descended, and since he had no choice, Encrid spoke up first on his own.
"The Two-Sword Style... holding two swords felt better."
The reason he wanted to become a knight was because he admired them. The reason he liked swords was because he simply loved the feeling of holding them. It was the same.
The moment he held two swords, he realized it. The moment he happened to train his left hand, the moment he realized he could hold a sword in both hands, Encrid was struck by a small bolt of lightning. It was a moment of realization.
If I can use two swords...
The thought fit him perfectly, like a second skin.
"I didn't ask."
Right, he hadn't.
"Hey, did anyone ask?" Rem snickered from the side. Lately, that barbarian bastard had been in a consistently good mood.
Indeed, no one had asked.
"I see." Big-Eyes nodded belatedly, as if his soul had briefly gone on a business trip.
This bastard probably doesn't even know what I just said.
Audin replied, "Yes, brother."
Sachsen didn't even pretend to listen. He had pulled out a whetstone from somewhere and was sharpening his dagger.
Shhhk, ting.
Only the sound of sharpening welcomed the morning sun.
"Ha!"
"Haa!"
Perhaps because of a certain mad squad leader, as free time lingered, the number of people training around him gradually increased. Amidst the shouts and the sound of the dagger being sharpened, Encrid muttered again, "Because using two is better."
"I told you, I didn't ask."
He wanted to prove he wasn't stubborn, but the moment he spoke, he felt like he was somehow admitting to being a stubborn fool.
So what should he do?
"How to make two swords feel like a part of your body. I believe that is more urgent, is it not?" Ragna asked.
Encrid completely organized his thoughts. He decided to just be a stubborn fool. For now, making the two swords feel like a part of his body was indeed the urgent matter.
"Yes."
"From now on, you have two lovers, squad leader," Ragna said.
He realized once again that his squad members' ability to explain things was the absolute worst. It wasn't that they lacked eloquence, but they struggled to explain what they knew. Even this advice had been kept bottled up for a whole day.
Encrid recalled Ragna, who had been deeply lost in thought in the barracks last night. Did he agonize so much just to say this?
Encrid replied, "Sure."
Two lovers was nothing.
"You must sleep cradling both of them. Whether you eat, sleep, take a shit, or do anything else, you must hold those swords close to your chest as you move."
Encrid didn't ask what kind of training this was. It was a method a genius had spent a whole day agonizing over. Encrid trusted and followed it.
"Sure."
The same answer came out twice. Ragna's face was slightly flushed. Encrid thought those flushed cheeks made him look like a young boy.
"Good."
That was the end of his words. After that, Encrid faithfully followed Ragna's instructions.
He honed his Isolation Technique. He learned while enduring Valaf-style Acupressure. He trained in martial arts and swordsmanship. He put tireless effort into extending the active duration of the Heart of Monstrous Strength.
And he held the swords close to his chest. He acted as if he had met two lovers from whom he could never part. Whether eating, sleeping, taking a shit, or doing anything else.
"Hiss."
Perhaps finding it quite annoying, Esther would occasionally whine when they slept, but Encrid did as he was told.
Thus, seven days passed.
There were no battles, only occasional news from the main force. Around the fifth day, Krais spoke with a serious expression.
"This isn't good."
"Why?"
"The main force's battle is dragging on."
"Why is that bad?"
Originally, Azpen's military strength was not to be underestimated. Even if Naurilia couldn't fully deploy its forces due to internal issues, enduring the offensive of Naurilia—which had risen to the ranks of a great power—was no easy feat.
Having learned from past experience, Krais explained simply rather than giving a long-winded speech.
"Even though we placed our palm right on the back of the enemy's head from the very start, we can't push through. And that's despite us having the upper hand in the eyes of the public."
"And?"
Krais's eyes narrowed. His gaze seemed to say, Are you really planning to keep asking without thinking at all?
Wait, why does it feel like I can hear him speaking with his eyes?
Still, shamelessly, because he was a stubborn fool, Encrid calmly brushed off Krais's look.
"Then, what should our allies do? As I see it, there's only one way."
"One?"
Is this guy for real? Krais's eyes screamed the question, but his mouth remained faithful to his duty.
"Actually striking the back of the enemy's head. Specifically, a quick hit-and-run tactic. I think we'll be doing something like that."
Encrid understood this. In other words, the work of the 4th Battalion of the 4th Regiment of the Cypress Division wasn't over yet. The Border Guard Standing Army still had work to do. It meant a battle would be needed soon.
Encrid naturally swung his sword as he replied, "I see."
Anticipation—there was such a thing. What exactly had Azpen left in their rear?
That was on the fifth day.
And on the morning of the eighth day, after seven days had passed.
"Ambush!"
The enemy attacked.