Chapter 619: Let's Be Friends
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 619: Let's Be Friends
The source was the same. That was the mage’s perspective.
“The origin within all things is one and the same. They begin from that single point and merely change form.”
Regardless of whether the theory was objectively right or wrong, simply adopting such a perspective was helpful in itself. If one’s mind was so closed as to insist that sorcery was strictly sorcery and divinity was strictly divinity, they would never be able to progress further.
“I agree with some of that,” Sinar added, offering her own thoughts on Esther’s words.
The elf knight used neither divine power nor sorcery, but Will. She converted the forest’s vital energy into Will. Unlike Encrid or Ragna, who accumulated and drew out the power from within themselves, she drew upon external forces.
Is Will originally inside me? Encrid wondered.
If the source of all power was truly the same, then that couldn't be the case. If Will was innate—merely a matter of awakening an inner power—it made no sense that only a tiny minority could ever manifest it.
“An interesting perspective, Sister Panther,” Audin said with a nod.
Encrid considered the nature of divine power as well. It was a strength granted by God, supposedly awakened through prayer and piety alone. However, just as a person’s character and martial skill did not always align, piety and divine power did not necessarily correlate either.
What did it mean that the lessons he had learned during his mercenary days also applied to those who had awakened divine power? It meant that prayer and piety were not the only requirements to obtain it. The same applied to sorcery, though sorcery offered a more direct method for cultivating power.
“One way to cultivate sorcery is to choose a good location. You know, a place with 'good ground'?”
The source is the same. Those were Esther’s words.
“Then does that mean magic is the same too?” Teresa asked.
The half-giant’s husky yet pleasant voice drifted like a melody through the campfire’s warmth.
“It is the same, yet different,” Esther replied. Because she felt favorable toward the group, she explained what she knew in a way they could easily grasp. “It changes depending on how you perceive and view it.”
The source is the same, but it shifts based on perception.
Those who believe it to be the power of God transform it into divine power. If one perceives and utilizes a supernatural entity—not a god, but a spirit—it becomes sorcery. If one believes it to be a power stemming from pure willpower, it becomes Will. If one perceives it as the energy flowing through the forest, it becomes vital energy.
“They say the dragonkin use the energy of dragons,” Luagarne added. She explained that they perceived and used Will through their own unique concept.
Was it called Dragon Words, rather than simple Will? The words of a dragon, the power of a dragon, the will of a dragon. Something like that.
And yet, the source remained the same.
One could never know all the secrets of the world, and this was no different. Simply by listening and reflecting, Encrid felt the Will within him grow slightly firmer. He had even established a small, pillar-like theory of his own. For this to become a house or a building, he still had to realize many things and redefine what he had learned, but he had gained something nonetheless.
As they spoke, snow began to fall heavily. Seeing this, Rem spoke up.
“Still, I’m not shoveling snow with my own hands.”
It was a retort to what Audin had said while explaining divine power. Had he not said that the Lord does not clear away the fallen snow for you?
“Of course. What does it matter anyway?” Audin replied. If the snow piled up, it had to be cleared, but once they returned to the unit, he could just put his soldiers to work. Audin had no intention of clearing the snow himself either.
There was nothing wrong with that, Encrid thought. After all, one didn't have to do everything themselves.
Using Will was similar. Not that he would clear snow with it, but rather that there were things that didn't necessarily have to be done by hand. It was much easier to use the momentum forged from Will to intimidate an opponent than to physically hold a blade to their throat.
A succession of new realizations flashed through his mind. Encrid turned them over, chewing on the thoughts repeatedly. Naturally, he fell silent, and Sachsen was the first to notice. Seeing Ropode about to speak, Sachsen raised his index finger to his lips.
Quiet.
Even without actively channeling Will, his intention was clearly conveyed. Everyone glanced at Encrid and shut their mouths. Only the crackling of the campfire filled the silence.
As the snow fell and drifted, the horses they had ridden in on would occasionally whinny outside, but now even the mounts were completely quiet. Sachsen, sitting near the entrance, saw that Odd-Eye was leading the horses and moving them to shelter.
Are you quick-witted too?
Odd-Eye was certainly no ordinary horse. And so, the night of their return passed.
Everyone prepared their own sleeping spots. A bit of snow wouldn't stop them from setting out, but their captain was deeply lost in thought, reaching for something just out of sight. Esther chanted a spell to keep the cold wind from entering the cave and the makeshift tents. The warm heat rising from the campfire enveloped them.
“It’s warm,” Sinar murmured, so softly that even someone right next to her wouldn't have heard. The words slipped out naturally at the sight of their camaraderie, combined with the warmth.
Because of that, a tiny bit of melancholy crept in. It was a natural emotion for someone walking a path with a predetermined end. Still, she did not show it. Elves were naturally good at hiding their emotions, but Sinar was exceptionally skilled at it. No one noticed even a trace of her sadness.
*
“We are grateful for the devotion of the Order of Madness, and furthermore, for the consideration of His Majesty the King.”
The Holy City-State had undergone what was practically a civil war. Had it not been for the order led by Encrid, far more blood would have been spilled. No matter how much Overdear rallied the army and the Heresy Purging Priests stepped forward, the presence of the formidable order had resolved everything in an instant.
Encrid stood at the center of it all. As a result, an envoy from the Holy City-State had come to Krang.
In a reception room inside the royal palace, adorned with a glittering chandelier and steaming teacups, Krang spoke with a benevolent smile.
“For nothing?”
The only noble seated in the room was Count Marcus—not the Vaisar of the Duke's House of the Thumb, but the young Marcus who had become the King’s close confidant. He listened in silence, sipping his tea and occasionally crunching on snacks. His entire demeanor suggested that this was not a tense meeting.
However, rather than softening the atmosphere, his casualness implied that the Kingdom of Naurilia didn't care what the Holy City-State had to say. The diplomatic priest’s complexion gradually darkened.
“...It seems you enjoy speaking frankly,” the priest said, his lips heavy.
“Is there any need to make things complicated? Everyone calls me a king dragged up from the filthy gutters anyway, so I live my life forgetting complex etiquette to match.”
There were indeed such rumors about Krang. While few within Nauril would dare say such things, foreign kingdoms—especially the rival merchant guilds of the Lockfried Merchant Guild—often gossiped like that. They believed their profits were shrinking because the kingdom was backing Leona Lockfried.
In reality, it was the Border Guard backing her, but to outsiders, it looked like the same thing. That was exactly what Krang wanted. It meant that what Encrid did was, by extension, the will of the kingdom.
“Is there something you desire?” the priest asked, at a loss for words. He abandoned the formalities and matched the King’s directness.
Mentally, the priest ran through a list of what they could offer. The Holy City-State produced many precious items: healing potions of unmatched purity, holy amulets handcrafted by priests to ward off evil spirits, and divine objects that rivaled magical artifacts. Furthermore, their wine was twice as excellent as Naurilia’s. Securing a supply at a low price would be a massive boon to the royal treasury, especially since rumors claimed Nauril’s finances were strained.
They might demand all three, the priest thought. If so, he would yield to a reasonable degree.
“Let’s be friends.”
The answer from the King’s mouth shattered the priest’s expectations. It was far outside his predicted range.
“...What did you say?” the priest stammered.
“I said, let’s be friends.” The King’s reply was cheerful. “Have some cookies. They’re delicious.”
The priest was speechless. A few more words were exchanged, but the gist of the conversation was simple:
“Let’s be friends? Is that all?”
“Pretty much.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, dead serious.”
“Is there something wrong with your head, King?”
“Nothing at all.”
“Then why are you doing this?”
At this, Krang only laughed. Marcus laughed too.
The envoy priest decided this was something he could not resolve on his own. Later, another envoy arrived.
“I am Noah.”
Noah, whom Overdear had brought into the Holy City, had now become the diplomatic priest.
“I’ve heard of you,” Krang said. He had received a letter from Encrid a few days ago, so he already knew about Noah. Even without the letter, the commotion caused by the Order of Madness had been too loud to ignore.
“It seems we share a mutual friend.”
“So it seems. Though that does not mean I would dare presume to be Your Majesty’s friend.”
The two talked over the course of two days. On the surface, it was trivial chatter—eating cookies, drinking wine, and playfully badmouthing Encrid alongside Marcus. They didn't truly mean it, but they all agreed that, regardless of his talent, the man was a complete madman.
“I quite agree,” the King himself nodded.
As their conversations intertwined, a conclusion was reached.
“Let us be friends, then,” Noah replied.
After Noah left, it appeared as though Krang had received no compensation whatsoever. On the surface, it truly seemed that way.
*
“You didn't break your sword this time? I’m touched.”
Upon returning, Encrid was greeted by Krais’s sarcastic gratitude.
“Didn't I say that was the natural outcome?” Encrid replied. Beside him, Abnayor nodded in agreement.
What followed was more of the same. From Castellan Graham to the various challengers—or victims—infected by Encrid’s battle-lust, those obsessed with sparring gathered.
“Please spar with me. I’ve polished a new technique.”
Even if they weren't at the level of a knight, observing their refined techniques was a pleasure. Encrid had no reason to refuse.
Training resumed in earnest. Audin and Rem sparred repeatedly for over three days. The result was a draw. From a technical perspective, Audin’s skill was slightly superior, but in a life-or-death fight, it would be difficult to determine a victor.
In the process, another characteristic of divine power was revealed.
“I can cast a light of healing.”
This was something that could not be done with Will or sorcery. Though their sources were the same, the applications differed wildly. It was no wonder divine magic had developed as its own branch. Furthermore, the divine power used by paladins was distinct from that used in spells.
Meanwhile, Encrid reflected on his realizations.
How does one awaken Will?
By posing the question to his inner self, he obtained something akin to an answer.
It’s not just about external things. Nor is it solely about awakening what lies within. One must do both: accept external forces and cultivate them within.
To put it simply, it was the difference between knowing how to grow a plant or not. A plant grows with water and sunlight. But what if you don't know how to water it? What if you don't even know water exists?
You can’t even begin.
That was likely why the number of Will users on the continent was so small. One had to know they needed both sunlight and water.
Encrid reached a conclusion: It’s because there is no systematic training method.
If he could systematize the training of Will, wouldn't it be possible to increase the number of users?
It means one must learn how to train the mind.
Even though he had crawled his way up from the very bottom, this was not an easy concept to grasp. It was difficult, yet he didn't think it was impossible.
Curiously, what the renowned martial organizations across the continent had been doing all this time was establishing training methods to awaken Will. They had raised talents through those secret methods. Encrid, too, was currently laying down those very foundations.
In terms of speed alone, he was traversing in a short span what had taken others decades. Because Encrid was accustomed to modifying and recreating every single swordsmanship form to fit his own body, he held no preconceptions.
A training method for Will.
Just as he had built his body through the Isolation Technique, there had to be a way for this as well. Though he couldn't create a perfect system right this moment, he knew he would gain something if he moved forward step by step.
Through his experiences, his regression, and the conversations shared with his companions, he had realized so much. The fact that there was still more left to learn was so thrilling it made Encrid’s heart pound fiercely.