Chapter 364: The Marquis's Gift
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 364: The Marquis's Gift
His hair was more silver than black, and his beard was trimmed short. Though he possessed a fit physique, his prime was a distant memory. A touch of softness here and there suggested he wasn't a man who lived for the blade with absolute devotion.
Yet, an air of effortless elegance radiated from him even as he stood still. He was the very definition of a high-born noble.
To Encrid’s eyes and sharpened senses, that was exactly how the man appeared.
Reflecting on the man's words, a realization took hold.
‘The Marquis.’
Encrid silently acknowledged that he had taken the bait. Not that it changed his plans; it didn't really matter. Above all, this was an affair he had intended to involve himself in from the start. In a way, he was almost grateful to the Marquis for providing the perfect excuse.
Still, there was no need to rush. His sweat had cooled, and the breeze was beginning to feel chilly against his skin.
Encrid set aside the halberd. One by one, he returned his other weapons to the armory beside the training ground to protect them from the morning dew.
Hunger gnawed at him. He had finished his training and dealt with the Marquis; his stomach was empty, and it was nearly time for lunch anyway.
"Let's eat," Encrid said, closing the armory door.
Kin looked up at his words, wondering for a fleeting moment if he would invite her to join them.
No one did. Not a single person spared her a glance.
‘Are these people blind?’
She felt her confidence in her looks take a significant hit. Consequently, she had no desire to linger a moment longer.
"I'll be on my way, then."
Kin departed. Five guards waited for her outside the gates. Every one of them stood in a disciplined posture, looking thoroughly capable.
Encrid glanced at them as they left. They certainly travel in force, he thought.
Then again, with rumors that the capital's security had gone to the dogs lately, that level of protection was likely a necessity. It was the Marquis who had brought an unusually small escort earlier.
After Kin turned and left, Encrid spoke as he walked back toward the mansion.
"Weren't you interested?"
Andrew was walking right beside him. Encrid had noticed Andrew glancing toward Kin several times, so he asked since Andrew had let her leave without a word.
"I'm too busy trying to revive my family. I have no time for distractions."
Encrid nodded. There was no right or wrong answer. Life was rarely dictated by simple binaries; everything was merely a matter of one's own choices. Encrid respected Andrew's resolve.
"You really are unusual, Captain," Andrew remarked.
Since Encrid heard this often, he let it go in one ear and out the other. It was a much better sentiment than being told to seek treatment at a temple.
"Ah, I was getting hungry too," Dunchabel added, approaching from behind.
Encrid firmly told Dunchabel that there would be no food until she washed up. Naturally, Encrid did the same.
A short while later, they gathered around the dining table as the meal was served. The maid who had stumbled in front of the Marquis had composed herself, diligently carrying dishes and water.
Soon, a hearty feast filled the table. Today's menu was a rich stew of carrots, broccoli, potatoes, and beef simmered in wine—one of Naurilia's traditional dishes.
Because monsters and demonic beasts forced humanity to congregate within walled cities, culinary culture had flourished out of necessity. The dazzling advancement of fortress-building technology stemmed from a similar root. In any case, the culinary arts within the city walls had developed in diverse ways, and this was Nauril, the capital of the kingdom. Even the chef Andrew had hired would be considered top-tier in any provincial city.
Slurp.
Encrid tasted the broth first. A rich, savory umami coated his tongue and slid down his throat. The flavor reawakened the hunger he had briefly forgotten while washing.
He picked up his fork and began transferring cubed beef and carrots onto his plate. Pushing the bay leaves aside, he speared a piece of meat and popped it into his mouth.
With a single bite, the well-cooked beef yielded, its texture falling apart instantly. It was incredibly tender, melting across his palate. The rich, savory fat of the beef harmonized with the clean finish of the wine, flowing down his throat like a waterfall.
The carrots were cooked to a soft, pillowy perfection, and the broccoli seemed to have transformed into an entirely new vegetable after absorbing the depth of the broth.
It was a highly satisfying meal. His fork began to move with increasing speed. Everyone else was eating with similar gusto. Even Esther had shifted into her human form to claim a spot at the table.
"It's fascinating every time I see it," Andrew said, glancing at Esther.
Since the five trainees and Mac ate separately, everyone else at the table belonged to Encrid's inner circle. Esther noticed the direction of Andrew's gaze and spoke up.
"Is this your first time seeing a witch?" she asked, uncharacteristically. It was a small gesture of goodwill, prompted by the quality of the meal. Of course, to anyone else, it would hardly look like goodwill, but for Esther, it certainly was.
"I've never seen a mage this beautiful before," Andrew replied.
Esther didn't react. Andrew hadn't meant much by it either; he simply realized why Encrid hadn't spared a second glance for Kin Vaisar. Esther’s beauty was practically a cheat code. Her long, flowing hair, piercing blue eyes, and the mysterious aura wrapped around her made her feel like an untouchable existence.
Yet, the group treated her with complete ease. Rem would ask a question, and Esther would nod.
"Does food taste better when you eat as a panther or as a human?" Dunchabel chimed in.
"Why don't you transform and try it yourself?" Esther replied with a blank face. She wasn't angry; this was just her default state.
Having observed them for several days, Andrew was finally starting to get used to the dynamic. To think that panther was actually a witch...
But what surprised him even more was Encrid. Compared to when Andrew had served under him previously, Encrid had become an entirely different being.
‘Is he really going to become a knight?’ the thought arose naturally.
Shaking off his stray thoughts, Andrew focused on his food. Watching the group, he realized he wouldn't even get a piece of meat if he didn't dig in now. Even though they had prepared a massive amount, these people ate three times as much as normal humans.
Everyone seemed to have already forgotten about the Marquis's business. Andrew found even that fascinating. No one asked what was going on or questioned the situation. This was the difference between merely following a leader and truly believing in one.
Looking at Encrid, Andrew implicitly realized what a leader needed to earn from his subordinates. It was an unexpected lesson.
While Andrew was lost in thought, the group finished filling their bellies. Dunchabel, with sauce smeared around her mouth, asked, "What do you think that thing is? Just so you know, it's not a beastman."
She had skipped all context, but everyone understood. She was asking about the identity of the creature roaming the capital's streets at night, kidnapping citizens. Whether they were going to kill it or capture it, they had to know what they were hunting.
Rem agreed. They had to start by deducing the nature of their prey.
‘A beast rampaging in the heart of the capital?’
No matter how lax the security was, it made no sense for a mindless monster to run wild unchecked. That meant it was something that hid during the day and was only active at night—and even then, only once every few days. Even with that established, its identity remained elusive.
Ragna gave a slight nod, sharing the question.
Encrid found it amusing that no one here asked why they had to be the ones to catch it. Seeing how Dunchabel immediately jumped to tactics, it was clear she didn't have a single complaint. It was remarkable how they followed him without a word of protest.
In truth, they were getting bored. Teasing the trainees and sightseeing only provided so much entertainment. Rem was already sharpening his axe blade—his silent signal that he was itching for a fight. The atmosphere permeating the capital was stimulating, carrying a tension similar to a battlefield.
Encrid chewed and swallowed his last bite before speaking.
"The lightning mage, the cave, the alchemist, the drug test subjects."
It was a list of clues. Encrid had an excellent memory, and he had been paying close attention to the rumors in the capital. Andrew had already summarized the key points for him: The howl of a beast that left people missing every few days. A presence that couldn't be felt during the day.
Synthesizing the information, a clear picture emerged.
"And the Black Sword," Encrid added.
Sachsen had been there too—at the place where all the elements Encrid mentioned converged. It was the site where they had overturned the Black Sword's drug manufacturing facility and found clear evidence of human experimentation. There had been a madman named Raban. There, they had seen humans half-turned into ghouls.
Encrid organized the data. What kind of existence runs wild at night and hides during the day? What is it connected to?
The leader of the Black Sword was in the capital. He had lost his sword, Lycanos, and his mortal enemies were closing in.
"Would he not know that Sachsen is pursuing him?" Encrid asked.
He knew. If the leader of the Black Sword didn't even know that much, he wouldn't have been able to hide his identity and pull off these schemes for so long.
"Is that your conclusion?" Sachsen asked, narrowing his eyes.
Encrid nodded. He continued his explanation for those who followed him.
"The traces left behind resemble those of a monster, but the fact that it hides during the day is proof that this creature possesses reason. Otherwise, it would mean someone is keeping it locked up and releasing it at specific times, which is highly improbable."
The capital's security forces weren't completely incompetent. It would be impossible to pull off such a stunt without being detected. Encrid recalled the Guard Captain he had seen when entering the city; the man's feathered hat had left a strong impression. Regardless of his actual strength, he didn't seem like an easy target.
The fact that they had missed the creature meant its martial prowess and movements were simply that difficult to track.
Encrid rested his elbow on the table and raised a finger. "Conclusion one: a human undergoing monsterification."
Even Esther could only fully grasp the logic after hearing it explained. When contemplating swordsmanship or strategy, Encrid considered everything from A to Z. His memory and his flexible, creative way of thinking allowed him to scale mental cliffs where others saw only dead ends.
"It only appeared when the moon was out," Sachsen added.
Sachsen paid attention to every unusual occurrence, searching for clues. However, this had been outside his expectations. To be honest, he had dismissed it; mad alchemists performing human experiments were common enough in this world. But once connected, it made perfect sense.
If it was a human undergoing monsterification, what kind of monster was it? A species that only emerged on moonlit nights, unable to suppress its instincts in the dark.
‘A lycanthrope.’
If Sachsen had deduced it, his captain surely had as well. He kept his mouth shut.
"Now, we only need one thing," Encrid said.
Rem, who had been listening quietly, nodded. "We don't have the authority."
"Exactly. If we start investigating the crime scenes tomorrow morning, the sheriff will throw a fit. He'll demand to know who we think we are to interfere."
"And we can't just beat them up every time they come at us," Rem finished.
Encrid nodded. Rem was no fool; the trouble he caused was often a calculated disruption.
"If the Marquis wasn't just blowing hot air, he'll send us something," Encrid said.
If Encrid was to do this job, he needed a shield strong enough to block the sheriff's interference. He had anticipated this when he spoke to the Marquis.
If Marcus or Krais had been here, they would have been cheering.
"Go into politics already!" Marcus would have shouted.
"You should use that silver tongue to steal women's hearts!" Krais would have laughed.
But since they weren't there, no one marveled. Rem just wanted to swing his axe, and Ragna felt the same. Esther had no intention of casting spells, though the mention of a test subject piqued her interest. A fusion of human and monster? A chimera. It disgusted her. To a mage, feeling was crucial; if she felt disgust, it meant the act didn't align with her Spell World.
"I'm going to rest. I like the cushions here," Esther said.
"Do as you wish."
Encrid raised a second finger. "Conclusion two: since the moon won't even be visible tonight, we just need to get a good night's sleep."
Andrew, who had been watching with his mouth agape, finally found his voice. "Why are you so smart?"
"Haven't we had plenty of time to think?"
"That makes it sound like the capital's sheriff and Guard Captain are complete idiots," Andrew muttered in disbelief.
But everyone else just shrugged. It was the truth—or rather, Encrid was simply that brilliant.
"Why is no one surprised?" Andrew whispered to himself, but he soon fell silent. This was just the kind of man Encrid was, and this was the unit he led.
*
That night, Encrid and his companions slept soundly. As he did every day, Encrid woke at dawn to practice the Isolation Technique, and Andrew joined him shortly after.
They were about to greet a morning no different from any other. But amidst their training, an outsider's voice echoed through the grounds.
"So, it really was you?"
A guest had arrived. To be precise, it was the "gift" promised by the Marquis.
He had provided the authority to do the job by sending Associate Knight Aisia, a member of the order—who, naturally, recognized Encrid on sight.