Chapter 154: This Bastard Is the Craziest of Them All
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 154: This Bastard Is the Craziest of Them All
The moment they stepped into the barracks, Rem spoke up.
"Platoon Leader, you’re definitely not right in the head."
Hearing those words come from Rem’s mouth gave Encrid a strange feeling. Why did this bastard always say such things without looking at his own reflection?
"Look who’s talking."
It was just banter, but even at the scolding, Rem smirked.
What was so funny that he was grinning like that? Encrid really didn't like that smile. But what was he supposed to say? That his grin was annoying? That it turned his stomach? It was all pointless.
Encrid shrugged his shoulders.
"So, did you finish your training, Brother?"
Audin looked as if he were wearing a halo. He was like a radiant bear of a man approaching them. In other words, he seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood. But why was he walking with the lamp light behind him like that? His gentle smile was the exact same one he wore when he increased the weight during the Isolation Technique.
"Uh, yeah. I did."
To be precise, he had made up for his lacking morning training by adding it to his afternoon session. Even so, his legs weren't shaking. Come to think of it...
When did it start?
Even after finishing his entire routine, he didn't feel like he was on the verge of death. It was bearable. It would be one thing if he were mindlessly enduring with the Heart of Monstrous Strength active, but this was different.
As he stood there lost in thought for a moment, Sachsen quickly brushed past him.
"I have business to attend to."
Ever since they returned to the unit, that guy seemed to spend more time wandering around outside than in the barracks. Though today, he seemed to be heading out a bit late.
"Purr."
Esther sat proudly on Encrid's bed and waved a front paw. It looked as if she were welcoming him back.
"Yeah, I'm back."
To an outsider, would he look like a lunatic greeting a panther? Well, what did it matter?
Struggling and writhing just to become a knight probably looks even crazier.
Just because he hadn't given up on his dream, and just because he held onto his beliefs and stubbornness on the path he walked, didn't mean he lived with his eyes and ears closed. Although not perfectly, Encrid had a rough idea of how he appeared to others—especially to those meeting him for the first time.
Do I look half-crazy?
Was he the type of lunatic who looked perfectly normal on the outside but did completely incomprehensible things? Well, at least he was better than Rem. It wasn't much of a comfort, but surely it was better than being crazy like that. Swinging an axe at a superior's head was, indeed, a hundred times worse.
Sensing something, Rem spoke up.
"The look in your eyes is really rubbing me the wrong way."
Rem had incredibly sharp intuition.
"It's nothing."
Encrid looked away from those gray eyes and suggested they go eat. It was time to eat and drink. When it was time to rest, one had to rest.
"Shall we? I'll go secure a table at the mess hall first," Krais said, moving first.
In the meantime, Encrid quickly washed up in the barracks' washroom.
Everyone headed to the mess hall without dawdling. Encrid roughly dried himself off and headed out with Esther cradled in his arms.
It wasn't a feast, but the Border Guard's mess hall wasn't bad. Of course, someone with picky taste would probably hate it.
"Is there no bread?" Ragna grumbled.
"You look like you'd eat dirt off the ground, so why are you always so damn picky?" Rem shot back.
The group sat around the table. They occupied the very center of the mess hall, and everyone else was busy stealing glances at them. Normally, the Mad Platoon wouldn't attract this much attention, but Frok was sitting with them.
Croak.
Frok seemed to be closely observing Rem scolding Ragna. His bulging, frog-like eyes watched the two of them.
"Tonight is a night I do not wish to exchange words with a lowly barbarian," Ragna muttered.
"Huh? You want me to feed you directly? If you're too lazy to eat with your mouth and digest it, should I shove it directly into your guts?"
As he spoke, Rem made a slicing motion across his stomach with the edge of his hand. They were truly consistent bastards.
"The mutton tastes pretty good. It's well-seasoned."
Encrid intervened at the perfect moment. It was right before Rem and Ragna could have a conversation with an axe and a sword in the middle of the mess hall.
"...Tsk."
"Is that so?"
Rem and Ragna withdrew their glaring gazes from each other.
For some reason, they seemed to listen to him remarkably well lately, which Encrid found fascinating every time. In fact, he had felt a strange sensation about this for a while now.
Who am I to them?
Why did their fights end the moment he stepped in? Why was he able to be the platoon leader here? All he had done was treat them straight and honestly. Saying what needed to be said, asking when he was curious. Being direct, yet respectful. That was all.
No, is it not that they listen to me, but that they've actually gotten closer?
It was just Encrid's feeling, but lately, their fights didn't really feel like fights. It was more like they were just testing each other's skills. Even before, though their words were harsh, they tended to respect each other's boundaries. Now, they didn't seem to fight even though they hadn't perfectly drawn those boundaries.
It feels like watching wild beasts that became friends on the savanna.
While Encrid was having such thoughts, croak, Frok, who was picking up salad and chewing it beside him, spoke up.
"Fresh vegetables. This territory must be quite prosperous."
"Trade comes before farming, so we can actually eat fresh vegetables more easily," Krais replied.
Frok nodded and spoke again.
"There are empty spots in the barracks, so I will stay for a few days as well."
"...?"
There was nothing for Frok to eat other than the salad, since his kind only ate bugs or grass. No one reacted to the words he casually tossed out while eating. They wondered what on earth he was talking about. Even Encrid was filled with questions.
This man was Frok—a high-ranking figure returning from the main force. But where was he going to stay? Everyone cast questioning gazes. Frok spoke without even looking at them as he ate.
Encrid asked, "Where do you plan to stay?"
"The bunk next to yours will do," Frok replied.
No matter how others treated him, Encrid maintained a minimum level of politeness. He was the platoon leader, after all. Even if he looked half-crazy to someone seeing him for the first time, those close to him would know. They knew that he was almost the only normal person in the Mad Platoon.
For that reason, polite speech flowed naturally. Encrid had thought the frog-man in front of him would return soon. Frok didn't originally belong to this unit. He thought Frok had spent an unnecessary amount of time just to stay and tell Encrid that he couldn't become a knight.
Since a day had already passed, he should have left long ago. The associate knight who had been with him had already departed, so it was strange for him to remain alone. Of course, everyone had a hunch. They guessed that Ragna and Frok's interest lay in him. That was why no one asked about his plans. Rem and the other platoon members didn't care in the first place. If he wanted to stay, well, so be it.
"Why bother?"
Since there was no need to hide his thoughts, Encrid asked directly.
A strange silence settled over the mess hall. Only the sounds of other tables chattering amongst themselves echoed—talk of gambling, the battlefield, women, and the like.
Encrid let the noise go in one ear and out the other as he looked at Frok. Frok shrugged and didn't say anything more. Encrid stared at him for a moment, then soon dropped his questions. To be precise, he let it go. It was purely a feeling, but Frok didn't seem hostile to him.
Above all, this was Frok. Having him around would be helpful, not a hindrance. Although it was strange that he wanted to stay in the barracks together, there was no reason to stop him.
"Me too, me too! I want to stay in the barracks now," Finn said, raising her hand. Her mouth was covered in mutton sauce. She wasn't the type to eat politely.
She was a ranger. It was ridiculous to expect excellent table manners from those who lived with the moon as their companion and the night sky as their blanket. Moreover, this was a barracks. No one filled their bellies with such manners here.
Only Frok showed such refinement. Although Encrid didn't know for sure, he thought that was how nobles would eat. Moving the greens to a plate, cutting them finely, and putting them in his mouth. Of course, the act of eating itself was in Frok's unique style—snatching the food by darting his tongue out.
"Go ahead," Encrid permitted. Although she hadn't officially joined the platoon, staying in the barracks wouldn't be a problem.
Should I report it?
He probably should. If they wanted to stay, he could just let them stay. Encrid thought to himself and kept chewing. Munch, munch. The mutton seasoning was really quite good. A subtle herb scent and moderate grease, with a spicy and sweet taste filling his mouth. It was really well-seasoned.
The meal was definitely more harmonious than usual.
"Brother, today's mutton is truly excellent," Audin laughed heartily.
"Does that suit your taste too?"
"Mind your own business and keep eating. Oh, that thing next to you is called a fork. If you don't know how to use it, leave it alone."
Rem and Ragna bickered, but since there was no murderous intent, this was, well, harmonious. Somehow, when he had first entered the barracks, the air had felt heavy.
"Interesting. Seriously, none of them are normal," Finn muttered.
Finn was an experienced ranger. She had met all kinds of people through various events, but she had never seen anyone as unique as the Mad Platoon. Their skills and personalities were both far from ordinary. Finn kept chewing the meat. Today, the well-marinated mutton was exquisite.
"But what about Andrew and Mac?" Krais asked, chewing on the mutton.
Took him long enough to ask.
Encrid recalled his sparring match with Andrew the previous night and replied, "He said he's being discharged."
"Eh?"
Originally, Andrew was the eldest son of the Gardner family. He had the duty to revive his family. Just before leaving, what did he say?
"I learned how not to give up by watching you, so I will do the same. Later, we will meet under the name of Gardner."
His tone had been confident. His eyes had shown desire. His gestures had been full of conviction.
He had told him to do so. That night, Andrew and Mac left the unit. Reporting it was Encrid's job, but the Elf Company Commander had readily let it slide.
"If you're sad that your numbers have decreased, I'll fill the headcount, Platoon Leader."
At those words, Encrid had shaken his head. The name Independent Platoon sounded nice, but they wouldn't be able to survive if they accepted just anyone. Only someone of Andrew's caliber could even catch their breath here.
I heard the previous squad leaders were all ground down too.
Rather than unnecessarily increasing the headcount here, if there was no problem maintaining the current state, now was better.
"It's fine."
When he had politely declined, the Elf Company Commander had joked, "Then should I join instead?" He had simply said he was fine, politely declined, and left.
Encrid pushed away the memories of last night and continued.
"They won't be coming back, and for the time being, the organization will remain as it is."
"Ah, yes." Krais also seemed to know something and let it go.
"What? One of my toys left without saying a word to me?" At those words, Rem jumped up.
"Hmm?"
"I'll go first." Then Rem ran out.
"I'm sleepy, so I'll be off." Ragna also stood up as soon as he filled his stomach.
"It is time for prayer." Audin also left.
After clearing the remaining food, Encrid rinsed his mouth with the cheap tea in the mess hall and stepped outside. As he walked toward the training ground instead of the barracks, Frok asked from behind.
"Where are you going?"
Encrid replied indifferently, "I still have training left."
It was now time for evening training.
Hearing that, Frok stopped in his tracks for the first time.
"You're training again?"
Frok let out something resembling a flustered sound for the first time since he had met Encrid.
"Of course."
Encrid was still indifferent. Whether Frok stayed or not, whatever happened. Whether everyone said he couldn't become a knight or not. What needed to be done was what needed to be done. Then, he just had to do it.
Postponing today's work to tomorrow? Encrid was not that kind of person. Rather, he was the kind of crazy person who would drag tomorrow's work into today.
This bastard is the craziest of them all.
Frok thought to himself.
A mad platoon, indeed—and this guy was the craziest of them all.
Encrid thought he was the most normal person, but that was only his own opinion. Other people's perspectives were very, quite, significantly different.