Chapter 563: Why Stay in the Order?

Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 563: Why Stay in the Order?

Appoint Rem as the vice-commander?

"I request that you immediately rescind this erroneous appointment."

Sachsen would surely say that.

"Since God does not permit this, I shall personally carry out the Lord's will."

Audin would step forward, clenching his fists.

And as for Ragna...

‘Wouldn't he just start swinging his sword without saying a single word?’

Therefore, the idea of a vice-commander was completely out of the question. Encrid dismissed it entirely.

After exchanging a few more words, Rem revealed what was truly on his mind. His tone suggested he had nothing to hide.

"Once we wipe out the Western Demon Realm, everyone will probably find a way to get by on their own. By then, Captain, you'll have lived however you wanted. As for me, when I get old, I'll probably just pat my wife's backside, get smacked a few times for it, and live watching my kid grow up."

Uncharacteristically, Rem was envisioning a peaceful retirement.

"You don't plan on kicking the bucket before then?"

Encrid asked, genuinely curious. Judging by how Rem acted in battle, he didn't seem like someone who cared about tomorrow. His outward demeanor suggested as much, too.

But his inner thoughts were different. Rem dreamed of the future. He dreamed of closing the Demon Realm and wished for time spent with his wife and child.

Suddenly, a thought struck Encrid.

Though he never showed it, Rem must also want to see his wife and his newborn child. Was there anything he could do for him?

There had to be. Encrid formed a plan and looked at Rem. Rem answered the half-joking question Encrid had thrown at him.

"Die? Who? Me? You're stating the obvious—I'm not going to die."

Seeing the smirk curling the corners of Rem's mouth, it really felt like he wouldn't. He would never die. His overflowing confidence manifested as Will, radiating a powerful aura from his body.

Looking closely, what Rem manipulated was sorcery power rather than Will, but to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Encrid, they seemed similar. Rem himself had said that sorcery and Will were similar when it came to reinforcing the physical body.

"Right. Well, I'm off."

"Go on. Why did you even bring up such useless nonsense?"

Hearing that Rem was heading to the blacksmith workshop with his training gear, Encrid urged him not to torment Eitri too much.

"Do I look like the kind of guy who goes around tormenting people?"

If Encrid didn't nod here, he would have to search through his own entrails, pull out his conscience, and discard it. And humans inevitably die if their entrails are dragged out. He still wanted to live and had too much to do, so he couldn't do that.

"Yeah."

He nodded resolutely.

"How ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠offensive."

Leaving behind a grumbling Rem, the next person Encrid sought out was Ragna. He asked a similar question to the one he had asked Rem.

What did he want? Was the Order really the place for him?

Ragna was a genius. He possessed a talent far greater than anyone Encrid had ever seen. That talent had blossomed, and Ragna had now found his own path. Though Ragna still struggled ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with direction despite the path stretching out before him, he had found the way his sword would take.

One could tell just by sparring with him. There was no doubt or hesitation in his blade.

And this was what Ragna said:

"I intend to go as far as I can on the path of the sword. For that, I need suitable opponents, but it's too much of a hassle to go looking for them. However, if I stay by the Captain's side, they'll probably come to me on their own."

Was he serious? He probably was. Ragna wasn't the type to lie or say things he didn't mean.

"Is that your reason for staying in the Order?"

Because it was a hassle.

The statement wasn't deeply shocking. Ragna had always been this kind of guy.

What followed was similar to Rem. He said he wanted to be the vice-commander. He argued that even if Encrid was the center of the Order, they needed someone to step forward and act as a guide, launching into an uncharacteristically passionate speech.

When told there was no such thing as a vice-commander, he showed a rare spark of enthusiasm, completely devoid of his usual laziness.

"If there is no vice-commander, then I suppose I should be the First Sword."

Ragna spoke in a serious tone, furrowing his brow. He was trying to invent absurd titles like "First Sword" or "Welcoming Sword." Even though he was told he didn't even have to stay in the Order, he was very seriously considering his rank.

"There is no such thing."

"Why is there no such thing?"

"Because there isn't, that's why."

"Is that so."

Making him give up was easy. It was absurd that a guy who was usually too lazy to do anything properly was showing such enthusiasm for this. Then again, a madman wasn't called a madman for nothing.

When he went to ask Sachsen, the response was simple:

"It's fun. That's enough."

That was it. There seemed to be more hidden deep inside, but Sachsen wasn't the type to voice it. After speaking, he merely looked at Encrid with a strange gaze. The meaning in his eyes seemed to ask: Why are you even asking that?

"Everyone has their own desires, and I can't force you to stay in the Order."

Having nothing to hide, Encrid honestly revealed his thoughts.

"Indeed."

Sachsen showed a faint smile. Encrid merely shrugged.

If he had been born with the ability to read minds, he would have tilted his head in confusion upon reading Sachsen's thoughts right now. Sachsen had thought of saying "Indeed," and then adding that if even a single person decided to quit, he would be willing to give up his entire Carmen Collection—but he held his tongue.

Taking a step back, there was a truth that became glaringly obvious.

This Order revolved around a single person, yet everyone was expressing their own will and intent. Because the vessel of the central figure was so vast and deep, it could contain everyone's will, leaving no one with any desire to leave.

That was Sachsen's conclusion.

In any case, instead of speaking his mind, Sachsen made a subtle request.

"I don't particularly need a title, but if you wish, I will take the position of vice-commander."

"No, there's no such thing."

Did the three of them plan this? Encrid couldn't understand why they were all saying the same thing. When he looked at Sachsen and reiterated that there were no positions other than the commander, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Sachsen simply replied, "Yes, I see."

It didn't seem like he particularly wanted it anyway. Or perhaps he had already anticipated that Encrid would refuse.

Since Audin and Sinar were traveling with him, he decided to ask them on the way. Afterward, he met with Ropode, Pel, Luagarne, and Teresa.

There were matters regarding people from the Empire requesting audiences, but outside of training hours, Encrid was already incredibly busy meeting with his companions and occasionally visiting Eitri. On top of that, he had to perform the bare minimum duties that Krais insisted upon—the responsibilities expected of someone in charge of a vast territory. Some matters strictly required his personal approval.

Aside from this, Graham would occasionally visit to seek guidance, and Encrid also oversaw the training of highly motivated soldiers and his personal guards. He was truly swamped.

Thus, he decided to simply ignore the emissaries claiming to have come from the Empire or other great nations. Their motives were obvious anyway. Much like the blind old man who had previously left a letter claiming to be a cultist, their offers were all the same: "Come to the Empire and we will give you this," or "Come to the South and we will give you that."

For that reason, the next person he hurriedly met was Teresa.

"I like it here."

Did he even need to ask for a reason? Teresa spoke before he could.

"Singing brings me joy. Fighting is fun. I only learned that such pleasures existed in the world after coming here. I have learned the teachings of the Lord Father anew."

And all of this was possible because of you.

Teresa swallowed her final words. He would know even without her saying them.

Encrid nodded. Sensing the mood, this was the moment to nod in understanding and pat her on the shoulder. But how could he possibly know Teresa's inner thoughts? He wasn't a god. He just accepted it. She did look genuinely happy, after all.

Frankly, in Encrid's eyes, she was one of the happiest-looking people currently staying by his side. Hanging out with Audin, praying, singing, and wandering around the city... It was plain to see that Teresa was enjoying every single moment.

"I am the Shepherd of the Wilderness. That will not change until the day I die. But for now, I wish to hone my lacking talents here."

At some point, Pel had become remarkably polite. What's more, his tone sounded as if he were pleading to stay. Was this change in attitude a bad thing? It didn't seem so. If anything, he seemed to be putting even more effort into everything he did. It was the same when he hung out and competed with Ropode.

"Sure, go ahead."

So it was only right to nod in agreement. Besides, if Pel ever decided to return to being the Shepherd of the Wilderness, Encrid had no intention of stopping him.

"It is an honor."

Ropode nodded without even needing to be asked.

"But isn't your original affiliation with the Red Cloak Knights?"

"Ah, I've already resigned from there."

It didn't seem like something to say with such a broad grin, but Ropode smiled brightly. To him, everyone, including Encrid and Ragna, was someone he deeply respected. He was getting to be with such people. For Ropode, the time spent in the Border Guard had been the most condensed and meaningful days of his life.

"Even if you kick me out, I'll stay as a squire, and if that's not possible, even as a common soldier."

Encrid replied, "Stay in the Order. As an associate knight."

Considering he had the talent to become a squire in the Red Cloak Knights, Ropode was actually no ordinary fellow. Encrid wondered why he was going to such lengths.

Next was Luagarne.

"Wouldn't it look good to have a Frok around? Especially a beautiful Frok?"

Though he couldn't fathom the beauty of a Frok, Encrid nodded. Hadn't she said with her own mouth earlier that she had gotten prettier?

"Sure, a beautiful Frok knight. Not bad."

Did the Frok even have the concept of a knight? It wasn't nonexistent, but apparently, it was extremely rare. She had mentioned never seeing one in her life, though records of them supposedly existed.

After asking everyone he needed to ask and receiving all the answers, Encrid carried out an unprecedented personnel appointment.

"You are also in the Order."

These words were directed not at a human, but at a horse.

"Neigh!"

Odd-Eye reared up on his hind legs, letting out a loud cry.

What is wrong with this bastard?

Encrid had said it just in case, but he was taken aback once again. He had only said it because Odd-Eye kept coming over and glaring at him. It almost seemed as if the horse had been waiting to be invited into the Order.

Ever since the beast gulped down the sacred spring water, it acted more human than before. Watching him run around the fields all day, occasionally kicking or biting monsters to death, he didn't just act smart—he toyed with his opponents. Seeing that, Encrid sometimes felt the horse was even more intelligent than a human.

"Yeah, right. Earn your keep for that spring water you drank."

At those words, Odd-Eye's mismatched eyes flashed with different colors. The damn horse actually flared its Will to show its agreement. It was as if he were saying, You won't be disappointed.

I was just talking.

Encrid had no idea why everyone was getting so worked up.

"You may call me Magic Knight Esther."

When Esther approached him later and said this, Encrid nodded once again. Odd-Eye was a horse, so communication was out of the question, but Esther was someone he could actually talk to.

"Why are you staying in the Order?"

Esther was a witch, and by all appearances, she had absolutely no reason to stay here. Her top priority was not saving people, and it was certainly not loyalty to the country. In fact, very few people here had stayed out of loyalty to the nation.

"A mage is a seeker of knowledge. Right now, I am content with studying you and the world. That is why I have no intention of leaving. If you are worried that I might easily depart, we can make a covenant or a contract."

Perhaps she had taken his question as an interrogation. Esther blurted out her words in a single breath. She even showed her sincerity by bringing up covenants and contracts.

"What contract? I don't need that."

You couldn't keep someone by your side through coercion. Encrid knew this well. How could someone who stayed under external pressure ever do their best? There was no need to keep someone who was merely going through the motions, so a contract was meaningless.

"Fine, then I shall stay. A magic knight, indeed."

Esther chuckled as she spoke, which was a rare sight, quite different from Sinar's smiles. Esther didn't smile often either, but who knew she could laugh so cutely? The way her shoulders shook as she let out a quiet giggle sounded rather awkward. Somehow, it reminded him of a squirrel. Should he ask her to transform into a squirrel next time?

He kept the thought to himself. He didn't want to see her expression instantly turn cold.

"Hmph. Anyway, I'm leaving."

Esther muttered something about how a magic knight holding a black flower would look, and then vanished in a flash.

And so, the roster of the Order was decided.

He was the commander. Under him, Rem, Ragna, Sachsen, and Audin formed the core. If Dunchabel returned and wished to stay, he would let her. Teresa was paired with Audin, and Ropode wanted to train under Ragna. Sachsen said he preferred being alone, while Luagarne and Pel were part of Encrid's guard and the Order.

That was all. It wasn't as if they needed anything grand.

Organizing his thoughts while taking in the autumn sky, the wind, the clouds, and the sunlight, Encrid looked at the remaining two. There were two people left to ask, and both of them were currently walking by his side.

The elf walking quietly and calmly right beside him was first.

"Will you join the Order?"

Sinar looked at Encrid. Her green eyes stared straight at him. It was a gaze that made it difficult to discern what she was thinking or what emotions she held.

Encrid had overheard Sinar speaking with Krang. He knew because he had heard her then. Unlike the others, she must have an ultimate purpose.