Chapter 588: Turn Your Steps Around
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 588: Turn Your Steps Around
After concluding the matter, Rem returned to the Border Guard. Viscount Harrison, who had nearly lost his lands to scorched-earth tactics, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"It seems a threat still remains. Since that is the case, we will watch over you for a few months."
To make matters even better, reinforcements from the Border Guard were officially stationed there. At first, the Viscount had been anxious. Is the Border Guard trying to swallow my land using this as an opportunity?
After all, it was a common tactic in this era to stealthily seize territory under the guise of protection. Even if that wasn't their intent, hosting such a large combat-ready force would surely drain his resources—food, drink, and clothing would all become problems.
However, the soldiers pitched their own tents to set up barracks and brought their own basic rations. Later, supplies even arrived directly from the Border Guard.
Even if he felt uneasy, it was impossible to refuse. To top it off, a letter from Encrid was delivered along with the supplies.
- Are you tending to your lands well?
Viscount Harrison held the letter in silence for a long moment. He stood frozen like a doll after reading it.
The militia captain subtly watched his reaction. Was the Border Guard really up to something? But would the Knight of the Iron Wall truly stoop to such things? No matter how desirable the Viscount’s land might be, it couldn't compare to Greenpearl. There, the land had lain fallow for over a decade due to the war, meaning a bountiful harvest could be reaped just by scattering wheat seeds.
The captain wondered what on earth was written in that letter.
The Viscount had given Encrid the Sacred Spring Water on behalf of the kingdom. He did not consider it a waste. People around him had made sarcastic remarks, but he ignored them. They said that if he asked the Border Guard for a favor, they would give him anything, so why was he doing nothing?
But the Viscount believed he had already received enough. He had received support, and more importantly, he had met someone who believed his words. That alone was sufficient. Though he avoided acting on mere emotion, he had no regrets.
This time, in his haste, he had requested reinforcements. Since he had heard that the Border Guard was dealing with its own internal turmoil, he hadn't expected much. Yet, reinforcements had arrived, and they had committed to protecting him.
Could there be another motive hidden behind this?
'If so, I should gouge out my own eyes for misjudging him.'
Only later did the Viscount recognize Rem. He wondered if he should consider it a relief that Rem had left without even saying goodbye. After all, wasn't his nickname the "Noble Hunter"?
He also belatedly received news that Rem had wiped out a bandit group on his way back.
It was with all this in mind that he had received the letter. After reading its contents three times, he let out a long sigh and raised his head. Encrid did not seem to have forgotten the words they spoke at the banquet.
That helped steady the Viscount’s briefly wavering heart. A burning passion welled up inside him.
"Ah."
The Viscount’s chest grew warm. Heat rose from deep within his gut. Someone was listening to his wishes, remembering them, and cheering him on. There was not a single speck of malice in it.
"I will surely repay this," the Viscount whispered to himself.
The militia captain remained curious about the letter, but he saw the change in his lord. The stationed unit spoke roughly, but they were highly disciplined. They never caused trouble, nor did they interfere in anything other than fighting.
This, too, was by design. Krais had told them that if any foul rumors reached the ears of the land's lord while they were stationed there, they were to return immediately.
And they hated the idea of returning. Under Rem's command, they had improved their skills and found their paths. They had learned much about training and combat—they didn't deny that. But when trapped in a training hell, isn't it natural for anyone to want an escape?
That was the real reason they were so eager to stay in the Viscount’s territory. It was just that the Viscount had no way of knowing these circumstances.
*
The Border Guard hadn't sent only the Remsault Unit as reinforcements. Once the Holy Church withdrew its people, incidents began breaking out across the region. Cultists rose up as if they had been waiting, and some areas were put in danger due to "monster shunting" as the south pushed in aggressively.
Monster shunting was a method of deliberately provoking a horde of monsters or demonic beasts, and when the creatures surged forward like a wave, the perpetrators would open a path to pass the stampede off to others. Since the neighboring territories then had to deal with the fallout, it caused immense distress.
Even though the order of knights responsible for the Southern Front held the line well, there were always gaps. Dealing with the monsters that slipped through those gaps was a grueling chore.
Using the pretext of the Soldier Mercenary System implemented by Naurilia, Krais deployed the Border Guard Standing Army at a frantic pace. They hunted monsters, wiped out bandit groups, and tracked down every single cultist that dared to rise up.
In the process, the true strength of the Border Guard Standing Army was revealed. Those who had been quietly observing them were astonished—especially the nobles within the royal palace. It seemed that only the entire Red Cloak Knights gathered together could rival them.
Naturally, some spoke of unease, but...
"If you have nothing better to do, why don't you go farm like Viscount Harrison?" Count Marcus, the King’s closest confidant, remarked dryly.
"They're coming to strike me? Then I'll just hand over all my land and even my daughter," the Duke of Okto added with a laugh.
"If he intended to overthrow the royal family, would the Knight of the Iron Wall be swinging his sword out there?" Marquis Vaisar pointed out. "If it were me, I would have become the Captain of the Royal Guard on the pretext of being the King’s friend. How easy would it be to fill this place with my own people after that? Why would he run around the frontiers if he didn't care whether the people lived or died?"
The prominent high nobles merely snorted in disdain at the rumors. Furthermore, as Krang’s operation to weed out corrupt nobles was nearing its end, only the relatively decent ones remained. Thus, the talk of anxiety was brief, replaced by genuine support.
In fact, starting from Krang, it was as if the entire country was sending a message: No matter how great the might of the Holy State is, we stand with the Knight of the Iron Wall.
Evidence of this sentiment was visible everywhere. And no matter what tricks the Holy State played, they couldn't conjure monsters out of thin air. As the Border Guard Standing Army cleared the surrounding areas, the region became more peaceful than ever before. They had practically wiped out the threats to the point where shepherds could drive their flocks around without a single worry.
In the meantime, with the City of Lockfried completed and the blueprint for the western trade route finalized, the sheer power of the Border Guard could no longer be ignored, regardless of the Holy State’s stance. Not only their military might, but their overall standing in commerce had reached a new level.
The Border Guard’s response to every crisis was swift and precise. The work of paving stone roads was progressing smoothly, and they were even carrying out large-scale road maintenance projects. While Krais played a central role, it was largely thanks to everyone moving with one mind. They believed in the leader they served, and they believed his path was right.
Everyone was busy. When it became difficult to respond to every request, Krais handled things by prioritizing them. What he was about to mention was one of those matters—something that had been pushed back to be investigated slowly.
"Where?" Encrid asked. They had just been discussing threats and cultists.
"Cross Guard," Krais replied.
Cross Guard was a city located northeast of the Border Guard, beyond the gravel fields and the Pen-Hanil River. In truth, it wasn't a major strategic issue. When Encrid tilted his head, Krais explained further.
"It seems cultists have been causing trouble lately. The city itself is in a bit of a state." He added that they had left it alone since it wasn't an immediate concern for their territory.
Encrid spent his days thinking about Will and immersing himself in training, but his growth was remarkably slow despite having grasped a clue. He wasn't impatient, but he knew he needed a change of pace. He had been drinking tea to clear his head when Krais arrived to chatter, so he listened.
"Cultists causing trouble? Just ordinary cultists?" Luagarne asked from the side. As a Frok, she loathed cults and was always interested in such matters. Since Esther was in her human form today, there were four teacups on the table.
"It seems a few of them are hiding and holding assemblies. Meanwhile, criminal organizations are running rampant. All sorts of bastards are causing trouble. When the Lord of Cross Guard found out and asked the temple for help, they apparently ignored him."
Azpen was still technically a hostile nation. Though it was a mere deception, they had built a low fence to draw a boundary line at Greenpearl. Lately, crossing that fence to interact with Azpen’s cities had become a daily occurrence. In reality, they were allies.
While the Border Guard built two fortress cities and a large agricultural hub—complete with mills and windmills to draw water from the Pen-Hanil River—Azpen was building a similar city facing Greenpearl. The two countries shared a border and exchanged resources; it was the beginning of a beautiful era of cooperation.
However, even if they got along well internally, Cross Guard could not openly request help from the Border Guard. They were supposed to be enemies who had pointed swords at each other until very recently.
"Even if the temple ignored them and they tried to ask their home country for help, the capital doesn't have the leeway. The Lord of Cross Guard must have a massive headache. I heard they even sent a few people through the guild, but contact was lost."
Krais wasn't asking for help. He was just casually mentioning the news.
Encrid knew the guild Krais mentioned was the Gilpin Guild. If contact with them had been cut, there was definitely a problem. He had heard that the Gilpin Guild had recently expanded into information gathering and had even invited Sachsen as an instructor. If they couldn't even send a letter, the situation was serious.
"I'll go. I could use a stroll," Encrid said.
"I'm going too," Luagarne added.
Encrid wanted to clear his head, and Luagarne simply wanted to kill cultists.
"Is that necessary?" Krais tilted his head.
Cross Guard hadn't formally requested reinforcements, but they had subtly signaled their distress through Abnayor. Krais had found out and begun taking action. Even so, it wasn't a mission that required the Knight of the Iron Wall and a mad knight commander.
"There's no harm in it, is there?"
"Well, no."
It was a whim. They didn't attach any grand meaning to it. Of course, Krais intended to broadcast far and wide that the Border Guard was stepping in. Even if they were "enemies," the issue of cultists was a continental problem. This would build the justification to intervene whenever cultists appeared anywhere. The more justifications, the better.
"Go ahead, then," Krais said.
Encrid immediately packed his gear.
"Hmm, I have an ominous feeling. If it gets to be too much, you should run away," Esther said, handing Encrid a small mirror. "It's a mirror that allows you to see my face, albeit briefly. Looking at it from time to time will give you strength."
"...Why would looking at a mirror give me strength?"
"Isn't it only natural to gain strength when looking at the face of a beautiful woman?"
Esther was a witch who had realized the truths of the world. Encrid looked at her with concern. "Stop hanging out with Sinar."
It seemed she had been infected by elven jokes.
"Hmph." Esther merely snorted and smirked. Compared to when they first met, her expressions had become quite rich.
Encrid’s sword had broken previously, so this time he obtained a new blade forged with Ink Gold. He also donned scale armor that Krais had personally procured. While he packed a sword belt, a light backpack, and rations, Luagarne packed a bug pouch. Since Frok skin was rarely injured and possessed unique regenerative power, they rarely carried heavy luggage. Moreover, Froks could go without food for two days without any trouble.
The two set off toward Cross Guard. Since a large dock for crossing the Pen-Hanil River had been built recently, taking a boat was easy. Calculating the itinerary, they would have to camp outside for about three or four days.
Encrid walked at a brisk pace, talking with Luagarne. They eventually encountered a group of peddlers. At first, the peddlers were startled, but they soon nodded.
"Traveling with just the two of you? Ah, well, if one is a Frok... Even if not, this area has been quite safe lately. It's thanks to the Border Guard Standing Army wiping out the monsters. Long live the Knight of the Iron Wall!"
The peddler blessed Encrid without even recognizing his face. He grinned, saying that if every day were like this, life would be worth living. Then, he quietly voiced his complaints about the Holy State.
"Not that I'm a heretic, mind you! You mustn't report me. I even donate to the monastery every month." The peddler, naturally loose-lipped, immediately regretted his words and tried to take them back.
"I won't. I'm not on good terms with the Church myself," Encrid replied casually.
The peddler warned him not to speak so carelessly. He added that even if the Demon Realm Holy Land Cult was a cult, cursing them recklessly might get him targeted one day. Despite the warning, the peddler maintained a smiling face as he went on his way.
"Still, these are truly good days," Luagarne said as she watched him depart. "Discussing the end of the war and peace... it means wishing for more people like him, right?"
"It's a good sight."
"Indeed it is."
Encrid walked until the sunset turned into a blue twilight. Just before the darkness swallowed the light, he found a suitable spot to rest. It was cold, even with thick clothes and heating leather. Luagarne hated the dryness more than the cold, so she constantly kept water in her mouth. She didn't seem to care about the temperature; Froks were naturally insensitive to such changes.
Encrid lay down and closed his eyes. Being able to sleep whenever necessary was a habit ingrained in him since his days as a mercenary. As he drifted off, the exceptionally clear night sky caught his eye. Stars filled the black void, and two blue moons scattered their light.
The pouring starlight filled his vision. The stars lined up like a river of light, and the moons looked like two blue lakes in the sky. It was truly beautiful.
"It is beautiful," Luagarne whispered from beside him.
"Indeed."
The two exchanged a few jokes, intoxicated by the view, and Encrid drifted into sleep.
As soon as he fell asleep, Encrid felt his body sway. He opened his eyes. Instead of a river of light, black river water rippled around him.
"So, are you ready to live eternally?"
The Ferryman sat across a stone table on a long rowboat. A purple lamp flickered, casting shadows over the dark water. Encrid looked at the Ferryman. His face was visibly clearer than before.
Eyes that had lost their color shone dully against grey skin that resembled a cracked, dry field. Encrid hadn't thought about it before, but the Ferryman’s face looked almost like a mask.
Encrid played along for the first time in a while. "What eternal life?"
"Since you do not die, that is indeed eternal life."
"You mean not dying while trapped in 'today'?"
"Yes. That is your eternal life."
Encrid did not agree. He stared intently at the Ferryman. The entity did not blink his colorless eyes, nor did his lips twitch. Instead, he uttered unexpected words.
"Turn your steps around. I shall show you a new path."
Encrid wondered what on earth that was supposed to mean.