Chapter 15: Just a Single Word
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 15: Just a Single Word
'Killed in my sleep?'
Encrid was so dumbfounded he couldn't even bring himself to laugh.
'Was I really that dull?'
Dull enough to be stabbed to death in his sleep without even realizing it?
No way. If he had been that oblivious, he wouldn't have survived this long. He couldn't even begin to guess how he had died.
Encrid recalled the moments right before he fell asleep. There had been nothing out of the ordinary. He hadn't sensed a single warning sign. He had simply fallen asleep and never woken up. Had he heard the sound of insects in his sleep? Had he tossed and turned?
No. He had slept soundly.
He was scheduled to return to duty in just one day, so he had cleared his mind and treated it as his final rest.
And after that? He felt like he had been possessed by a ghost.
But he didn't just stand there, paralyzed by shock. If panic froze his mind, he would die again. It was simply the start of another "today." Having already gone through this once, Encrid knew what he had to do and what he needed to consider.
There were two things to think about.
First: "How."
Whether his throat had been slit or his nose and mouth covered, how could someone kill a person without causing any pain?
Second: "Why."
'Why me?'
He had been taken out without even knowing the moment of his death. This was no amateur's work. If the opponent was an assassin, they had to be top-tier or higher. If they were an enemy soldier...
'They'd be even more dangerous than a top-tier assassin.'
The medical tent was in the rear. If they could sneak all the way in here just to slit a throat, they had to be an assassin capable of making a fool of a knight and walking away unscathed.
In fact, the answer to "why" was already somewhat obvious, wasn't it? Aside from himself, only Krang and Vengeance were in the tent.
'There's no way a figure of this caliber would come just to target Vengeance.'
Then there was only one answer: Krang.
The clueless soldier who claimed to have forgotten his own unit. There was no way a guy like that was just an ordinary soldier.
The answer to "why" was clear. As for "how," he cast it aside for now. He would find out tonight when it happened again.
Strangely enough, he had thought it was hard because of the godawful pain he suffered every time he died at the hands of the Stabbing Freak. He had thought looking into that pervert's eyes was the shittiest feeling in the world.
'But this is even worse.'
It left a foul taste in his mouth. Dying without even knowing what was what—it was an absolutely wretched feeling. Even stepping in shit and rolling around in it wouldn't feel this disgusting.
'I feel absolutely...'
Like shit.
But since feeling that way changed nothing, Encrid cast his emotions aside. Instead, he recalled what he had to do and organized his thoughts.
'I can check the "how" tonight. As for the "why," I'll assume they came for Krang.'
Here, another question arose. Beyond "how" and "why," there was "who."
Who was the assassin? Assuming it wasn't an enemy soldier, it had to be someone who knew the location of the medical tent, knew how to conceal themselves, and was skilled in assassination. An ally who had already identified the target and was in a position to approach easily.
A figure suddenly flashed through his mind.
'The company commander?'
It was a reasonable suspicion. An elf's footsteps are silent, and their movements are stealthy and swift. They were the perfect race for assassination. Moreover, since he was stationed here, they had a perfect excuse to come and go. If that was their goal, it made sense why they had come by a few days ago to waste time with useless chatter.
The pieces fit together perfectly.
"What are you doing?" Vengeance asked from beside him.
Encrid replied reflexively, "Thinking."
"Thinking? Real short with your words, aren't you? Have you actually lost your mind? You crazy bastard?"
Perhaps his thigh wound had healed to some extent, as Platoon Leader Vengeance stood up with a limp.
"Ah, I thought you were Krang, Platoon Leader. My mistake."
"Is 'my mistake' all you have to say?"
"I'm sorry."
"Is an apology supposed to fix everything?"
He was really latching onto this.
"I'll go grab some food."
Encrid turned away, ignoring Vengeance as he usually did, and stepped out of the tent. Amidst Vengeance's screaming voice from behind—"I'm not eating!"—Krang woke up late and shouted his own greeting.
Encrid didn't resent Krang just because he had died because of him. It was true that he felt disgusted, and it was true that his irritation was soaring, but Krang wasn't the one who had killed him. In the end, hadn't he died because of his own lack of skill? Or perhaps because of rotten luck.
That was how Encrid saw it.
'If I know it's coming, I won't get caught.'
It was an assassin sneaking in. Just making a scene would draw the nearby allies. That would be more than enough to catch a stray cat sneaking in at night. He didn't even need to catch them himself.
Before long, he saw the medical tent soldier approaching while rubbing his eyes. Dragging his feet, he looked utterly bothered by everything.
'This bastard is consistent, at least.'
"Because you were late, a certain platoon leader is absolutely furious."
"Because I was late? That's only because you, the squad leader, keep teasing me."
Officially, this soldier was also at the squad leader level. Thus, the two of them held the same rank.
"You're supposed to be a Lowest-rank soldier, but you've got some nerve, don't you?"
On the way back together, the lazy soldier asked a question. It was abrupt and lacked context, but it wasn't hard to understand. He was asking why Encrid kept fearlessly picking fights.
"Vengeance?"
"He's an Intermediate soldier."
Not just the Cypress Division, but the entire military of the Kingdom of Naurilia divided soldiers into ranks. It was essentially a reward system designed to boost morale, as proving one's skills would earn them a corresponding rank. Proving one's ability and being granted a rank came with monetary rewards every time a soldier's rank rose.
Encrid also thought this was a highly useful system in many ways.
Lowest-rank, Low-rank, Intermediate, Senior, and Highest-rank. These five ranks served as motivation for soldiers to train fiercely. Since Naurilia revered martial prowess, almost all commanders possessed martial strength at the Senior level or higher.
And knights were excluded from this grading system. A knight was simply a knight. For they were beings who had transcended human limits; they couldn't be bound by such a system.
Therefore, anyone at the level of a platoon leader was at least an Intermediate soldier. Squad leaders were either Low-rank or Intermediate. Of course, no matter how outstanding one's skills were, they wouldn't be appointed to a position that disrupted the chain of command. Those at the platoon leader level and above were carefully selected.
But there were always exceptions. Encrid was a Lowest-rank soldier, yet he was a squad leader, while the squad members under his command were at least Intermediate soldiers.
"I think you're a peculiar human," the soldier spoke without much thought.
But Encrid felt a strange sensation. 'Me?' All his life, he had only been told he was ordinary. Or that he lacked talent.
"Two portions of food should be enough," Encrid said.
The soldier looked at him, muttered, "I knew you were a bit strange," but prepared only two portions anyway.
Returning to the tent, he placated Vengeance a bit. After finishing breakfast, he trained as usual and reviewed past battles. Krang had left without eating breakfast, so the only ones eating were Encrid and Vengeance.
"I suppose Krang told you he was leaving?"
"Well, yeah."
At Encrid's question, the medical tent soldier nodded vaguely, as if it were no big deal.
He had considered the elf company commander as a suspect, but this guy was also a strong candidate.
'This soldier can also come and go here whenever he wants, can't he?'
There was a night watchman guarding the front of the tent, but they wouldn't stop the medical tent soldier.
'Let's not jump to conclusions.'
Even if the pieces fit perfectly, jumping to a conclusion would freeze his mind. It was better to keep his options open.
It was only after lunch that Krang returned. It was the exact same day, though, of course, Encrid alone acted differently.
"You're busy."
When Encrid spoke to him, the returned Krang tilted his head. Then, with a faint smile, he approached and asked, "You know what?"
"What?"
"This is the first time you've initiated a conversation."
'Had I?' Come to think of it, it did seem that way. He hadn't particularly paid attention to it.
"I guess so."
As if it were no big deal, Krang chuckled and sat down on Encrid's cot.
Encrid hadn't really been curious about Krang's identity. No, he hadn't been. But since today had started repeating because of this soldier hiding his identity, curiosity did arise. Just what kind of guy was he that an assassin would come after him?
He could try to coax the truth out of him slowly, but Krang was also someone who had listened to his dream with sincerity. Sometimes, conveying one's sincerity directly was better than beating around the bush.
Encrid did just that. Sitting beside him, he looked straight into his eyes and asked, "Who are you really?"
Vengeance, who had been dozing off, woke up and saw the two of them close together. He was about to say something and butt in, but stopped because he, too, had heard Encrid's question. Vengeance was just as curious.
Encrid calmly waited for an answer. Krang laughed, but it wasn't his usual easygoing laugh. Without erasing his smile, he stared into Encrid's eyes for a long moment.
'Is he trying to have a staring contest?'
Encrid leisurely waited for him to speak. Just as Vengeance, unable to hold back any longer, was about to speak...
"Hmm, I can't tell you."
"Why?"
"Because it wouldn't be fun if I told you. And I have a promise I need to keep."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah."
At his refusal to reveal it, Encrid nodded. Watching them from his cot in the back, Vengeance had heard this absurd conversation from beginning to end. And he thought: What kind of absurd nonsense is this? Why is he just accepting it after asking the question himself?
So he does have a hidden identity, then? If there's a reason he can't openly reveal it... Is he an enemy? A spy?
Vengeance's train of thought ended. At the same time, his mouth opened. "Are you a spy?"
"I'm the Squad 444 leader, though?"
"Not you, you bastard."
"Me? No." Krang shook his head.
Although Krang denied it immediately upon hearing Vengeance's question, he let out a short click of his tongue and stood up from the cot. Encrid watched him quietly.
Krang took a few steps and stood in the center of the medical tent. The soldier guarding the medical tent, who had been dozing off, looked at him and half-opened his eyes.
"I can't reveal my identity, but I can tell you one thing."
It was a strange feeling. His stride as he walked to the center of the tent, his manner of speaking, his gestures, his smile, his gaze, his breathing—a strange feeling that everything was perfectly aligned. He was like an actor walking onto a prepared stage. A peculiar aura flowed from his body, naturally drawing everyone's gaze to him.
Without realizing it, Encrid focused on Krang's lips. If one knew how to listen with all their heart... could they, conversely, also speak words that captivated the ears and hearts of others?
"I cannot betray this kingdom."
Words spoken neither too fast nor too slow. Merely a word. Sometimes used to lie. Sometimes reduced to meaningless noise. Sometimes used to whisper a love that would soon fade. Though it was just such a word, it changed entirely depending on whose mouth it came from.
The words Krang spoke sounded like the natural order of things—like flowers blooming in spring, leaves turning in autumn, and foliage falling in winter. It sounded like an unquestionable law of nature.
Encrid saw a vision. The tent suddenly seemed to expand vastly, and Krang appeared to stand at its absolute center. It was vast. During his mercenary days, he had once passed through the granary region of the Kingdom of Naurilia. The surroundings opened up like those endless plains. Even with the surroundings so wide open, Krang stood there with absolute clarity. His presence seemed to encompass the entire wilderness.
'He's no ordinary person.'
He was the type whose rank couldn't be measured.
'A knight?'
No. Could a mere knight possess such presence? In truth, if a knight-level expert hid their skills, he wouldn't have the eyes to recognize it anyway. But it was an instinct. He wasn't a knight.
"Well, if you don't believe me, so be it."
As Krang casually tossed out those words, the vast plains and the wilderness vanished. The vividly clear Krang returned to his normal self.
"Though I'd be grateful if you did believe me."
"I think I have to believe you."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Because you said it like that."
Encrid couldn't even begin to guess his identity. 'Not that it matters much.' All he had to do was stop the assassin. It was merely curiosity. It would be nice if the other party told him, but if not, it wasn't a problem.
"Phew."
Vengeance let out a deep breath, as if he had been holding it. He looked at Encrid and Krang, about to say something, but...
"Damn it."
He muttered only that and turned away. Perhaps because Krang's identity seemed so extraordinary, even Vengeance couldn't bring himself to say anything more. Seeing this, Krang burst into laughter.
"Don't worry, Platoon Leader. Right now, I'm just Krang."
"...Who said anything?"
Tsk, he's completely terrified. Encrid found Vengeance almost cute. It was fascinating how he kept picking fights with him despite that. And yet, he would shut his mouth completely whenever Rem was around. He didn't really pick fights with the other squad members either.
'Come to think of it, I am curious why he only targets me.'
Glancing at Vengeance, Encrid killed time. The same day flowed by.
"Good night, Encrid."
"You too."
"Ahem."
Platoon Leader Vengeance, perhaps fearing some sort of backlash, skipped his usual evening greeting. Well, that makes a man feel a bit empty.
Soon, the assigned night watchman stood in front of the tent. Encrid did not sleep. He could fall asleep instantly if he wanted, but staying up for a night if necessary was no trouble at all. When he worked as a mercenary, what had saved him was his stamina and quick wits rather than his swordsmanship.
Time passed. The night deepened. The night watchman changed twice. Vengeance snored softly beside him. Encrid forgot about sleep, lost in various thoughts.
'If I keep lying down like this, I'll doze off.'
Just as he was thinking of getting up to take a piss...
Prick.
He felt a sharp prick near his neck. Thinking he had been bitten by a bug, he brushed his hand against his neck. Then, his fingers caught on something with a soft click.
'A needle? A poison dart?'
He carefully pinched it with his fingertips and pulled it out. It was a thin needle made of wood.
'Wait, this is unexpected.'
He had planned to scream the moment they appeared. A dull pain began to spread from the pricked area, and soon, all sensation vanished. It felt as if someone had severed his neck and taken his body away. It was clearly there, but he couldn't feel anything below his neck.
'What is this...'
Soon, dizziness washed over him, and his head spun.
'A poison dart.'
He had been done in. This was the answer to "how." No matter how dull a person was, no matter how deeply they slept, how could they not realize their throat was being slit or their heart pierced? The answer lay here. It was a lethal paralysis poison.
Encrid tried to keep his eyes wide open until the very end. He couldn't let this "today" go to waste.
He saw a faint shadow. The build was small. Unless they had an unusual constitution, it wasn't an adult male. A woman or a child—that was what the silhouette looked like. The shadow approached and swung its arm, and that was the end.
"Cypress! Cypress!"
He heard the Cypress anthem. It was the start of a new "today." To be precise, it was the third "today."
"Are they slacking off, damn it? Why isn't breakfast here yet?"
It was the same. Platoon Leader Vengeance was complaining about the soldier who hadn't arrived in the morning. Since there was no need to waste time today...
"I'll go out and check."
Without even bothering to deal with him, Encrid headed outside. Starting with bringing the soldier back, he would start anew.
To be honest, he didn't even know where the poison dart had been shot from. So what should he do? He wouldn't lie down; he would prepare. What he needed now was a proper excuse—an excuse to stay awake and on his feet even in the middle of the night.
Even if this was the rear, it was still a battlefield. Excuses to stay awake were more than plentiful.
'Let's try this again, Mr. Assassin.'
Encrid began his preparations.